In the last ten years Kilgour has led the line in Savile Row working with the new intake of modern British tailors to enhance the street's authority in the world of mens' fashion. Founded in 1882, Kilgour is probably the most versatile and innovative menswear business in Savile Row. The Company makes wonderful bespoke clothing, the envy of its peers, and sought to build on this beautiful craft and extend the clothing offer to a wider market. As a consequence Kilgour was the first Savile Row tailor to develop licensing agreements (Barneys New York-1968), to embrace the development of new fabrics (pioneering man made fabrics with ICI in 1969-the costumes are now in the V&A) and to recognise the importance of design in tailoring (Tommy Nutter 1974). The absence of a luxury British menswear brand to rival the French, Italian and Americans has long rankled in Savile Row.
