Anderson & Sheppard

Anderson & Sheppard is a London bespoke tailoring firm established in 1906 and associated with the English tailoring tradition of Savile Row. Its principal business is the creation of individually commissioned menswear, made through a process that typically includes consultation, measurement, pattern cutting, fittings, cloth selection and hand finishing. The firm is best known for the Drape Cut, a soft-structured approach that generally provides more fullness through the chest and upper body, a comparatively natural shoulder treatment and ease of movement while retaining the formality and proportion expected of tailored clothing. The firm’s identity is rooted in craftsmanship and individualized service rather than in volume production. A bespoke commission is developed around a particular client’s body, preferences and intended use, so the final garment can vary substantially in silhouette, cloth, construction and detail. Its work has historically included suits, double-breasted tailoring, eveningwear, overcoats and other formal garments. The company has also been associated with a distinguished international clientele, including Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, Noël Coward and Bryan Ferry. King Charles has been reported as a long-term wearer of the firm’s double-breasted suits, while other known clients have included Tom Ford, Fran Lebowitz and Marlene Dietrich. Anderson & Sheppard was established on Savile Row in 1906. In 2004, ownership passed to Anda Rowland, who inherited the business from her father. The following year, in 2005, the firm moved its principal shop from Savile Row to Old Burlington Street, where it has remained. In addition to bespoke tailoring, the business sells ready-made menswear from a nearby Clifford Street shop and through an online channel, extending its offer beyond individually commissioned garments. The firm occupies a distinctive position within luxury menswear. It is often cited as a leading exponent of a more relaxed and comfortable form of English tailoring, contrasting with approaches that emphasize highly padded shoulders, sharply suppressed waists or rigid military structure. Its reputation rests on the continuity of its cutting tradition, the expertise of its cutters and makers, and the cultural prestige of London bespoke tailoring. Publicly available information about its financial performance, workforce, detailed ownership structure and current executive roster is limited.

Anderson & Sheppard was established in London in 1906 and became part of the tailoring culture associated with Savile Row. From the beginning, its work centered on bespoke menswear: garments individually developed for a client through measurement, cutting, fittings and hand finishing rather than standardized factory production. The firm’s later reputation was shaped by a distinctive approach to structure and proportion that became known as the Drape Cut. The Drape Cut is generally associated with a softer interpretation of English tailoring. Instead of relying primarily on rigid padding, a strongly pinched waist or a narrow, armor-like silhouette, the method allows additional room through the chest and upper body and seeks a natural relationship between the garment and the wearer’s movement. The result remains formal and carefully controlled, but tends to feel less constricting and less overtly engineered. This approach became one of the firm’s most recognizable contributions to twentieth-century British tailoring and helped distinguish it from other schools of Savile Row cutting. Over the decades, Anderson & Sheppard developed an international reputation through its clientele and through the influence of its methods on menswear culture. Former clients have included Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, Noël Coward and Bryan Ferry. The firm has also been associated with King Charles, who wore its double-breasted suits for many years. Other reported clients have included the fashion designer Tom Ford, who joined the firm’s clientele in 2004, as well as Fran Lebowitz and Marlene Dietrich. These associations contributed to the firm’s standing among performers, writers, designers, public figures and collectors of bespoke clothing. A significant ownership transition occurred in 2004, when Anda Rowland inherited the business from her father and became its owner. The following year, in 2005, the shop moved from Savile Row to Old Burlington Street. Although the move took the principal premises away from the Row itself, the business retained its place within the surrounding Mayfair tailoring district and continued to be identified with the Savile Row tradition. The company later broadened its retail presence. Alongside its bespoke operation, it sells ready-made menswear from a shop on nearby Clifford Street and through an online channel. This creates an additional entry point for customers who may not commission a fully bespoke garment, while the firm’s central identity remains its custom tailoring service. Today, Anderson & Sheppard is recognized for the continuity of its London tailoring practice, its soft-structured cutting philosophy and its emphasis on personal service. Its work spans suits, double-breasted tailoring, eveningwear, overcoats and related menswear. Detailed public information about its financial results, staffing, production volume and successive operational managers is limited, so those areas are not expanded beyond what can be supported by available references.

1. 2005Move to Old Burlington Street

   The firm moved its principal shop from Savile Row to Old Burlington Street, where it has remained.

   Source
2. 2004Ownership passes to Anda Rowland

   Anda Rowland inherited the business from her father and became its owner.

   Source
3. 2004Tom Ford becomes a customer

   Tom Ford began commissioning suits from the firm; garments later appeared in a W magazine photo shoot.

   Source
4. 1906Establishment in London

   Anderson & Sheppard was established as a bespoke tailoring firm and became associated with the Savile Row tailoring district.

   Source

Luxury British bespoke tailoring centered on handcraft, individualized fitting, Savile Row heritage and the soft-structured Drape Cut.

• Bespoke tailoringBespoke menswear1906

  The firm’s core service creates individualized garments from a client’s measurements, cloth selection and stylistic requirements. The process normally involves consultation, measurement, pattern cutting, one or more fittings and hand finishing. Each commission is adjusted to the wearer rather than produced from a standardized size range.

• Drape Cut suitBespoke suit

  The Drape Cut is the firm’s signature tailoring philosophy. It is associated with a softer shoulder, additional chest fullness, a natural fall of the cloth and greater ease of movement than more rigidly structured tailoring. The approach preserves formal proportions while favoring comfort and fluidity.

• Double-breasted suitBespoke tailoring

  Double-breasted suits are among the firm’s historically associated offerings. They are developed to the individual client’s measurements and can vary in lapel shape, button arrangement, cloth, degree of structure and overall silhouette. The firm has been associated with supplying double-breasted suits to King Charles.

• Bespoke eveningwearFormalwear

  The firm makes individually commissioned formal garments for evening and ceremonial use. Specific designs, fabrics and construction details are determined with each client, allowing the service to cover different forms of black tie and formal dress within the conventions of British bespoke tailoring.

• Bespoke overcoatOuterwear

  Custom overcoats are developed around the client’s measurements, wardrobe needs and desired degree of structure. The cut, cloth weight, length, fastening and interior construction can be adapted to the commission while maintaining the firm’s emphasis on proportion, drape and practical comfort.

• Ready-made menswearMenswear retail

  In addition to bespoke work, Anderson & Sheppard sells ready-made menswear through its nearby Clifford Street shop and an online channel. This retail offer provides customers with access to the brand without commissioning a fully individual garment.

• 2005Relocation of the principal shopStrategy

  The firm had operated on Savile Row but remained part of the surrounding Mayfair tailoring environment after its premises changed.

  What changed. Anderson & Sheppard moved its principal shop to Old Burlington Street.

  Aftermath. The firm continued operating from Old Burlington Street while retaining its association with the Savile Row tailoring tradition.

  Source
• Expansion of ready-made retailStrategy

  The business was historically centered on individually commissioned bespoke garments.

  What changed. The firm added ready-made menswear sales through a nearby Clifford Street shop and an online channel.

  Aftermath. Customers can access the brand through ready-made products as well as its core bespoke tailoring service.

  Source

1. Anderson & Sheppard