The legendary Saville Row in London has been known for many things, such as being the site for the last performance of the Beatles, but it is mainly known as the center of British bespoke tailoring – especially for menswear. This time, the first female master tailor is set to open up shop on these premises. After working up the ranks for 15 years at the prestigious Gieves and Hawkes, and then opening her first tailoring house in 2012, Kathryn Sargent can finally stake her own claim on the street by starting with a six-month residency.
“It has always been a dream of mine. It feels fantastic. There’s a real sense of achievement,” the 41-year-old told AFP. She started off studying at Fashion College and then began her apprenticeship in 1996. This isn’t the first gender-related milestone for Sargent though. She was also the first woman on the street to be appointed head cutter back in 2009.
“We’re always talking and working together on how we can promote our craft nationally and internationally and also preserve our skills and keep the standards high. The landlords here work with us to do that too,” Sargent said. Her skills made her well-known in the close-knit Saville Row community, which led to her being offered the chance for her own premises.
“It’s fitting that the first woman to be appointed as a head cutter on Savile Row is returning to open a shop of her own and is testament to the continued appeal of Savile Row as the sartorial home of high quality, hand-crafted tailoring” said William Skinner, chairman of the Saville Row Bespoke Association.
For more information on Kathryn Sargent, you can check out her site over here.
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