GIVENCHY: THE MASTER COUTURE DESIGNER AND FASHION HOUSE

Givenchy is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1952 by Hubert de Givenchy. The brand is known for its elegant and sophisticated designs, as well as its high-quality craftsmanship. Givenchy produces a wide range of products, including clothing, handbags, accessories, fragrances, and cosmetics.

BARENA VENEZIA: THE CLASSIC ITALIAN QUIET LUXURY BRAND

Barena Venezia is a small, family-owned Italian clothing brand founded in 1993 by Sandro Zara. The brand is known for its high-quality, casual, and functional clothing made from natural fabrics. Barena’s designs are inspired by the traditional clothing of the fishermen and hunters of the Venetian lagoon.

AKRIS: WHY DO THOSE IN THE KNOW FLOCK TO THIS SWISS COUTURIER THAT IS MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD?

Akris is a Swiss premium luxury womenswear brand that has been catering to high fashion clientele since the 1940s. The company, founded in 1922, began life as a textiles and apron manufacturing concern under the helm of founder Alice Kriemler-Schoch (with the brand’s name being an abbreviation of her own name), before slowly evolving into the haute couture powerhouse that it is recognised as today.

ALAN FLUSSER

The celebrated arbiter of sartorial excellence, Alan Flusser has long been regarded as one of the foremost authorities on men’s style and the art of dressing well. Indeed, he literally wrote the book on the subject – ‘Dressing the Man’. Mr Flusser’s bespoke tailoring studio in New York City is one of the few true traditional tailors in the European tradition in the United States, offering Savile Row cut suits albeit with a strong nod towards American Trad to cater for even the most conservative of American tastes.

A.W. BAUER & CO: THE LEADING NAME IN SWEDISH BESPOKE TAILORING

A.W. Bauer & Co, or Bauer as the firm is more famously known, is the pre-eminent Swedish tailoring house with a long and illustrious history serving royalty and Scandinavian gentleman for more than 150 years. The Stockholm firm has been given new life following the eventual takeover by young entrepreneurial Swedish tailors seeking to reinvigorate the appeal of bespoke craftsmanship but bringing a modern twist to the house’s traditional approach.

A. CARACENI: THE PURSUIT OF A TAILORING TRADITION

The Caraceni name is legendary in the world of Italian bespoke tailoring with various cadet branches of the family having established reputable tailoring houses bearing the family’s great name. The Milanese Sartoria Caraceni is considered one of Milan’s, if not the world’s, great bespoke tailors with a distinguished and loyal customer base including, indeed, many notable designers and leading fashion voices rendering Sartoria A. Caraceni a designer’s designer. Those seeking classic structured elegance in their suiting , crafted from the finest Italian or English cloths might well find a second home at this Milanese studio.

ABRAHAMS: AN ICONIC DUBLIN TAILORING HOUSE

A Dublin institution, Abrahams is one of Ireland’s pre-eminent menswear stores with a rich heritage in bespoke and made-to-measure tailoring. The firm has been the preferred tailor to many of Dublin’s best-dressed professionals. Abraham’s has been serving a distinguished clientele since founded by the popular Maurice Abrahams in the sixties. Indeed, to this day, the store is an essential resource on sartorial matters with an excellent and friendly staff who are just as happy to advise on bespoke choices as they are to walk customers through their ready to wear ranges. The firm has established a particular reputation as a go-to venue for Grooms-to-be and wedding parties.

PATEY HATS

One of London’s most illustrious hatters, Patey traces its history back to 1695. The brand’s first store, however, opened in the West End in 1799. The firm garnered a reputation as standard bearer in the industry, producing fine hats by hand to the most esteemed customers, including HM the Queen of England who bestowed a Royal Warrant upon them. Patey Hats was the preferred maker for the legendary hat designer, Herbert Johnson whose own hat studio ultimately absorbed parts of the Patey house before becoming part of Swaine Adeney Brigg in 1996. The Patey brand remains today as part of the Firmin House group.

LAULHÈRE

Originator of the iconic French beret, Laulhère has been crafting this iconic hat for military and civilian customers since 1840. Founded in the foothills of the Pyrenées, Laulhère uses traditional techniques and the finest wools sourced from across the region to knit elegant and luxurious hats and accessories. The firm was awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant distinction in recognition of their heritage and craftsmanship. Their products are widely available across France and internationally.

LAIRD HATTERS

A relatively new arrival to the gentlemen’s hatters scene, Laird was founded in 2009 and has branches in London, Oxford and Cambridge. The house focuses on producing high quality products for discerning, fashion and style conscious customers who seek hard-wearing apparel. This ethos has been driven forward by the launch of the brand’s own range of clothing, under the Laird Utility label, which includes countrywear and workwear pieces made to the same quality and standards as their hats. Their luxurious, traditional hat boxes have become collectables in their own right.