A desultory drizzle added to the unusual sheep-farm atmosphere yesterday when The Campaign for Wool marked the start of Wool Week by showing Exmoor and Bowmont Merino sheep on Savile Row. After a launch breakfast, at which the sustainable nature of wool was emphasised, I had a wander round Savile Row, bumping into many old friends and enjoying the presentations on the street and some of the shops on the Row.
One product exemplified for me the modern use of wool. Guy Hills of Dashing Tweeds, who, with designer Kirsty McDougall is updating tweed as a twenty-first century cloth, showed me a suit designed for cycling. Reflective threads in the cloth glow in direct light, an action-back and button straps to close the trouser hems were among the many features of this beautifully cut suit. Being wool, it sheds showers and doesn't get too smelly as the wearer works up a sweat spinning his bike across the city streets. The suit is worn in the pictures with some rather elegant shoes from Edward Green.
The day was superb; very English in that it combined eccentricity with world-leading technical manufacturing and exquisite tailoring skills. For more information on Wool Week and The Campaign for Wool click here.
I was lucky enough to be photographed by GQ's David Nyanzi for a feature on 'Superbly Suited Men in Savile Row', so here I am with the sheep in the background. See GQ for the full feature.
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| Image David Nyanzi for GQ |
