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The Grand Asian Sartorial Tour: searching for the best sartorial craftsmen in Asia!

 

In memoriam : Godfather of the Row: Angus Cundey, MBE. 1937-2024

 

Godfather of the Row: Angus Cundey, MBE. 1937-2024

https://savilerow-style.com/news/godfather-of-the-row-angus-cundey-mbe-1937-2024/

 

Angus Cundey, known affectionately as The Godfather of Savile Row and the driving force behind Henry Poole & Co for many years, has died after a short illness. He was 87. The company, now headed by his son Simon, made the following announcement earlier this week: “It is with a very heavy heart that we share this message. After a short battle with cancer, Angus H Cundey MBE, the sixth generation to lead our family business, passed away peacefully at his home on August 12.

 

“He lived and breathed Henry Poole, built special relationships with clients, and was fond of and proud of the skills of all the staff and of their achievements in making Henry Poole what it is today: one of the finest tailors in the world. He was called “the Godfather of Savile Row” as he fought continuously to achieve the Row’s global recognition, its protection and preservation. He was the chairman of trade-related organisations such as the FMT in Europe, the SRB and the BTBA. He was much loved by the trade and all the people involved in it, and was honoured with an MBE for his services to the industry. He leaves a legacy and will be greatly missed by all of us. Rest in peace.”

 

A few hours later, Savile Row Bespoke said: “Our deepest condolences go to the family, friends and team at Henry Poole. RIP The Godfather of Savile Row.”

 

It was back in 2018 that Angus Cundey was presented with an MBE by The Queen for his services to bespoke tailoring and trade charities. He acquired many accolades throughout his illustrious career and was a past president of the Federation of Merchant Tailors, Chairman World Congress of Master Tailors 1973, President Master Tailors Benevolent Association and a founder of Savile Row Bespoke.

 

In an interview with Savile Row Style Magazine back in 2016, he told one of his favourite stories – that, until his headmaster put him right a few weeks before he left school in 1954, he knew hardly anything about Henry Poole. “When I was about 17, my headmaster [at Framlingham College] summoned me to his study and said: ‘Now Cundey what are you going to do when you leave at the end of the term?’. I replied that I was going into the RAF as I wanted to learn how to fly, but he said, ‘Cundey have you not heard of your wonderful family business, the most famous tailors in the world?’”

 

Although Angus and his sister regularly came up to London in school holidays to see their father at work, Samuel Cundey never explained that Henry Poole was the family business and that Angus could be the sixth generation of the family to work there. Luckily for tailoring, the young Angus had time to mull over his future on the train heading back to London at the end of that final school term. “I sat there thinking: do I really want to be a pilot or a tailor? When I got out at Liverpool Street I asked my father, will there be a place for me at Henry Poole? A great big smile came across his face and he said, ‘of course’.”

 

And Angus was very supportive of Stewart Lee, publisher of Savile Row Style Magazine, when he wanted to launch his own gin brand – Savile Row Gin. “I had a heart stopping moment,” recalled Stewart. “The whole project depended on getting the whole-hearted support of Savile Row tailors. At lunch at Brown’s I told Angus Cundey about it, and for the longest ten seconds of my life, he took a deep pause…He cocked his head to one side and then said yes, he thought it was a wonderful idea.”

 

Naturally, Stewart was keen to pass on his words of sympathy to the family. “Angus was The Godfather but also the Gentleman of Savile Row,” he said. “It was an honour and a pleasure to have got to know him over many years. Sending my sincere condolences to all the family. The world of bespoke tailoring has lost one of its finest.”

23 November 2010 : REVISITING Henry Poole ... the oldest Taylors on Savile Row

Henry Poole & Co is a gentleman's bespoke tailor located at №15 Savile Row in London. The acknowledged 'Founders of Savile Row' and creators of the Dinner Suit, the company has remained a family-run business since their establishment in 1806. They opened first in Brunswick Square, in 1806, originally specializing in military tailoring, with particular merit at the time of the Battle of Waterloo. Their business moved to Savile Row in 1846, following the death of founder James Poole.

Henry Poole ran the business until his death in 1876, and was succeeded by cousin Samuel Cundey, whose legacy continued, for five generations, to the present-day owners Angus Cundey and son Simon. In the two centuries, the tailors have enjoyed great success and endured extreme difficulties, but survive to this day as the typification of excellence in bespoke men's tailoring. The company still holds many Royal Warrants, and services the Lord Chamberlain's office with court dress, with their livery department even creating uniforms for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The company are also credited with the creation of the Dinner Suit.

The company makes regular visits to mainland Europe, the U.S. and other international locations, including Henry Poole outlets in Japan and now China. In 2006, the company celebrated their bicentennial with a refurbishment of their premises and 2007 saw a re-issue of a suiting material made famous by Winston Churchill, a Henry Poole customer who ordered his first suit 100 years ago.


Angus Howard Cundey MD of Henry Poole & Co (1806), the oldest company on Savile Row.

He was born in 1937 and was educated at Framlingham College, Suffolk and did an apprenticeship at Maison Lanvin, Paris. He also attended the famous Tailor and Cutter Academy on Gerrard Street. Angus has held many prestigious positions in the Tailoring world: Past President of the Federation of Merchant Tailors; Chairman World Congress of Master Tailors 1973; President Master Tailors Benevolent Association; President Tailors Benevolent Institute, Livery.Merchant Taylors Company. Director Savile Row Bespoke Association, Director British Clothing Industries Association.

1806, Pooles had set up as a military tailor. In 1846, a palatial showroom with a new entrance opening onto the adjoining street of Savile Row, started the long tradition of the Savile Row suit. By making a short smoking jacket for the Prince of Wales in 1860, the now famous Tuxedo was created.








Warrants
HIM The Emperor Napoleon III 1858

HRH The Prince of Wales 1863

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 1868

HRH The Crown Prince of Prussia 1868

HM Queen Victoria 1869

HM The King of the Beligians 1869

HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark 1869

HRH The Prince of Teck 1870

HRH Prince Christian of Schleswig–Holstein 1870

The Khedive of Egypt 1870

HRH Prince Oscar of Sweden & Norway 1871

HM King Amadeus I of Spain 1871

HRH Prince Louis of Hesse 1871

HRH Crown Prince of Russia 1874

HIM The Emperor Pedro II of Brazil 1874

HIM Tsar Alexander II of Russia 1875

HM The King of Hellenes 1877

HRH The Crown Prince of Austria 1878

HM King Umberto I of Italy 1879

HIM Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany *

HIM Tsar Alexander III of Russia 1881

HG The Duke of Genoa 1891

HG Friedrich, Grossherzog of Baden 1891

HG The Duke of Aosta 1892

HRH Prince Emanuel of Savoie 1892

HIM The Shah of Persia *

HM The King of Denmark 1893

HM King Edward VII 1902

HRH Prince Albrecht of Prussia 1903

HH The Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda 1905

HIM The Shah of Persia 1906

The Khedive of Egypt 1910

HM Queen Alexandra 1911

HRH The Prince of Wales 1922

The Imperial Household of Japan 1923

HM King George V 1928

HM The King of the Bulgarians 1936

HM King George VI 1940

HIM Emperor Haile Selassie 1959

HM Queen Elizabeth II 1976

The Lonsdale Smoking Jacket: My Henry Poole Commission - Delivery & The Blessing | Kirby Allison

 

A Five-Piece Shooting Suit

My Third Bespoke Last & First Casual Shoe Fitting at Canons | Kirby Allison

https://canons.com/

With a continuous history spanning over 185 years, our workshop is London’s oldest bespoke shoe and bootmaker.

We proudly design and make the highest quality bespoke shoes; boots, bags, belts and luggage along with small leather goods. Every one of our items is truly bespoke, meaning our clients get to own a wholly unique piece.

 

The process of bespoke making is highly skilled and our team is both professional and discreet. Our workshop is honoured to produce bespoke shoes and leather goods for high profile clients globally and has done so for over 185 years.

 

Canons has a worldwide travel roster and our Lastmaker visits clients both old and new several times a year in countries such as the United States and Japan. You can find details of our upcoming trunk shows here.