With a reputation for excellent military and uniform hats, Herbert Johnson has been producing fine hats for soldiers and civilians alike for more than 100 years. Founded in 1889, this renowned hatter has given us many of Hollywood’s most iconic headwear, including the legendary fedora worn by Indiana Jones throughout the franchise’s cinematic series. Herbert Johnson was a renowned milliner who masterfully crafted pieces to the exacting function-first standards of the military and also to the grand statement needs of the theatre and, later, the movie industry. The brand became an institution for London’s best-dressed gentlemen and a must-visit for international jet-setters too. Herbert Johnson often engaged Patey Hats to manufacture some of the house’s designs. Today, the marque sits under the umbrella of brands helmed by Swaine.
Category Archives: LUXURY
KITON
Kiton is a revered brand, well known to the world’s best dressed men. The brand was established in 1968 by Ciro Paone who had already launched a successful apparel company in 1956 in his home city of Naples. He sought to build upon that experience and on the city’s legacy as a global epicentre of fine tailoring and shirtmaking with the launch of his own tailoring house, a house which would use only the finest materials and the most careful and precise craftsmanship. His mission was single-minded: to be the world’s pre-eminent tailoring studio. The brand quickly won over the most discerning Neapolitan gentlemen and grew to become one of the most coveted bespoke suit makers on the planet. Paone expanded his brand to offer a wide range of apparel, accessories and leather goods, with various off-the-rack pieces made to the same exacting standards and high quality as his bespoke options and, as such, Kiton is renowned as a top-tier, quiet luxury brand.
ARTLING
Opened in 2010 as a made-to-measure tailoring establishment, Artling has grown to offer a full bespoke suiting and shirtmaking service to the most dapper of Parisian gentlemen. Famed for their vibrant and quirky flourishes, Artling has developed a reputation as a go-to outfitter in the fashion capital.
LANCEL
Founded in 1876, Lancel began as a producer of luxurious smoking instruments and gentlemen’s accessories, silverware, dinnerware and even timepieces. However, it was their leather goods and complementing travelware that would see the brand becomming a big hit with Parisian society. The firm slowly repositioned itself as a manufacturer of elegant bags, luggage and leather products. Their trunks and suitcases were very popular in the age of steamship travel and the early years of aviation travel, putting the firm on a similar footing to other great malletiers of the age. The brand was acquired by the luxury goods conglomerate, Richemont, before being sold to Piquadro who currently steward this illustrious marque.
MAJANI
Italy’s oldest chocolatier, Majani produces masterful delicacies to please every sweet tooth. The Bolognese brand has been going strong since it first opened in 1796 and can now be found at retailers and boutiques across the world. It’s most popular, the layered Cremino, is particularly sought after as an indulgent creamy treat. No visit to Bologna would be complete without stopping by their historic shop where the rich aroma will invite you in.
7 PORTES
Restaurant 7 Portes is one of Barcelona’s oldest restaurants and a go-to destination for authentic, accomplished Catalan cuisine. Located adjacent to the city’s marina, this dining room has been hosting distinguished guests since its foundation in 1836. The food and decor alike are exquisite and beautifully presented making the establishment a treasured institution in one of the world’s most exciting culinary cities.
MARTHA SU MISURA
Martha su Misura is a full-suite bespoke tailoring house just outside of Modena. Helmed by Martha Naudascher, the firm offers made-to-measure and custom shirtmaking, knitwear, suiting and more for men and women. The atelier also manages a small boutique with a range of ready-to-wear items and accessories to outfit their discerning clientele.
HUNGANT
The glove-making tradition in Transylvania dates back more than 200 years with the area being a global epicentre for the trade. Hungant came into being in 1925 and became part of the state manufacturing apparatus until it was privatised in 1995. The brand uses the finest quality materials and time-honoured craftsmanship to produce some of the world’s most luxurious gloves. Famed for their extremely soft leathers and comfortable linings, Hungant gloves are highly sought after, particularly their classic driving gloves.
SLUKA
A proud Viennese institution, the rarified Sluka brand includes two grand cafés in the Austrian capital. Founded in 1891 by Wilhelm J. Sluka, these establishments have long-served as meeting places for the city’s social elite, artistic visionaries and great thinkers. So too have they become must-visit destinations for visitors exploring Vienna’s cultural history. The grand dining rooms are exquisitely decorated and serve beautiful delicacies and traditional Viennese food throughout the day.
CHANEL
Coco Chanel began to ply her trade as a milliner of note when she opened her hat boutique in Paris in 1910. She soon expanded to include ready-to-wear tailored coats and sporting pieces to ensure the fashionable ladies of Parisian society were appropriately attired for their various sporting and leisure pursuits. Her designs featured elegant yet defined silhouettes and luxurious but practical materials which quickly came to define her house style and remain iconic and distinct today. The Chanel house would continue to grow, offering all manner of luxury goods, leather goods, perfumes and, eventually, couture designs. The brand is widely regarded as one of the world’s pre-eminent high-end luxury fashion brands.
FITZGABRIELS 