Meyer & Mortimer, as part of the Savile Row Bespoke Association, is proud to be part of The Campaign for Wool and UK Wool week of events commencing the 5th October. The week’s events will be shepherded in with Savile Row hosting two sheep breeds grazing the length of the world’s most famous sartorial street along with woollen dressed models promoting the fibre as the choice of cloth for menswear.
Wool has long been favoured as a choice of cloth for Savile Row tailors for its strength, versatility in both winter and warmer climates, as well as its ability to absorb and hold colour.
With His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as patron, The Campaign for Wool (CfW) has - over the last 5 years – gone a long way to encourage collaboration between an international community of woolgrowers and major fashion designers, retailers, manufacturers, artisans and interior designers. On the consumer front objectives include educating shoppers about the versatility of wool, and reconnecting them with its myriad uses.
The campaign is proving to have an international impact with the CfW reporting a new demand for wool on an international scale with success for farmers seeing threefold increase the price they receive for their wool.
Sheep on Savile Row from 2010
As with all tailors houses Meyer & Mortimer has a long history with the fibre with wool being used for the majority of the jackets, trousers and vests we make. Paul Munday, the director and cutter here at Meyer and Mortimer points to the fact that a suit can have up to 90% of wool in it, including canvasses which is used in the chest to give it shape and structure. Paul also highlights wool’s ability ”to spring back to life. Unlike man-made cloths it doesn't crease easily so it’s a great material to work with and wear”.
Fellow director and cutter, Brian Lewis, said he enjoys working with and wearing Super 100 and Super 150 wool. The numbers refer to the count and fineness of the yarn often coming from the belly of the sheep where the fibres are softer and longer. The result for the wearer is the essence of comfort with a suit that works well across hot and cold seasons due to wool being able to change favourably, not only to the environment, but also to its wearer’s temperature.
As part of the UK Wool Week and the Campaign for Wool we will, along with other members of the Savile Bespoke Association, be submitting an especially made bespoke garment to be worn by one of the previously mentioned models who will be on Savile Row on the 5th October.
Designed and cut by Paul Munday and cutter Oliver Cross; it is a red over-check wool jacket with storm flap with a concealed box pleat with 3M light reactive fabric insert for night-time walks/cycle. Brown hues check vest with 3 welts and pen pocket followed by herringbone brace top trousers with double pleat and turn ups.
We’re very much looking forward to the activities that week and an opportunity to celebrate this indigenous, natural, durable, flexible and sustainable fibre. What better way to do this by bringing the sheep that produce it to Savile Row ensuring it will be a fascinating, if not slightly surreal, event seeing the very rural in the heart of London.
M&M