History in the Making: Norton & Sons
Here at Gentry we like to shed a little light – or at least the warmest of wintry glows – on the kinds of brands that can seriously improve the quality of a chap's life. The luxuriant eminence of Norton & Sons most certainly hits the mark.
Their bespoke tailoring has satisfied the young gentleman of London since 1821 and they show no signs of flagging. Quite the opposite, their plush creations seem more relevant than ever – faithful to the rule that true quality is timeless.
The firm can lay claim to eleven ancient Royal Warrants including the Kings of Italy, Spain, Portugal Belgium, the Emperor of Prussia, H.M. King Geroge V and Queen Victoria. The firm gained eminence making sharply cut suits for rugged and robust gentlemen, men such as Lord Mountbatten and the young Winston Churchill, for whom the firm made everything from Dinner Suits to Racing Silks. Lord Carnavon wore a Norton suit when he discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb.
In the 1970's Norton & Sons incorporated the famous old Savile Row house of E. Tautz & Sons (Estd. 1867), tailors to many of America's best dressed men, and inventors of the knickerbocker, Hammond & Co (Estd. 1776) breeches makers to a string of British Monarchs, J. Hoare & Co, the only Savile Row tailor to have their clothes featured in the Musee de la Mode in Paris, and Todhouse Reynard & Co.
Norton & Sons enjoys strong links with British fashion. The late British Couturier Sir Hardy Amies had a vast collection of Norton clothes, and the firm collaborated in the creation of his menswear collection. In recent years Norton & Sons has worked on clothing collections for British menswear Designer of the Year Kim Jones, British Designer of the Year Giles Deacon, young London designers Richard Nicoll, House of Holland, Christopher Kane, and New York’s Rag & Bone.
The future then, looks as remarkable for this choice brand, as the past. Their bespoke bags are worth the attention of every style conscious fellow alone. With colours updated seasonally, for our part, we think this is the finest luggage in London. The simple collection is fully hand crafted in Bergamo, Italy from the finest vegetable tanned leathers – and feel, as you might anticipate, gorgeous to the touch.
Norton & Sons creates modern, uncompromised British tailoring using traditional techniques. For an authentic touch and the kind of exquisite detail not often seen in these sour times, they are a true treasure of the capital.
Discover them for yourself, here.
Related Features:
- A colourful history of blue
- Things We Want This Autumn
- A rakish history of menswear
- Bespoke Men’s Tailoring goes Online
- The Dapper Mr. Browne
I ordered a suit from Norton & sons in March this year and paid a 50% deposit.
I was told the first fitting would take place in about ten weeks.
I then received a receipt from them by post.
I have literally heard nothing from them since.
Either Norton & sons is incompetent or it is just a con. In either case I would not bother with them.
In the meantime I have had three beautiful, bespoke suits made by another Savile Row tailor
Happily Steffan is now in possesion of his suit. We can only apologise to our customers who suffered delays last year. We had a great many more orders than we had expected. Anyone visiting us now will find our workshop enlarged and our tailoring team expended.