Meet the New Generation of London’s Tailors

Perhaps no city has a more storied legacy of men’s tailoring than London, and no street embodies that legacy more than Savile Row. Nestled in the heart of posh Mayfair, the historic street has been synonymous with precision, elegance and exclusivity for centuries. Home to legendary bespoke tailoring houses, Savile Row has dressed everyone from royalty to captains of industry to Hollywood icons. Its enduring influence is unmatched and has set the foundation for menswear as we know it. But today, while the Row (not to be confused with the Olsen twins’ brand) continues to uphold its proud traditions, a new generation of designers are carving their own paths with menswear for the modern era.

After a long period of streetwear dominance and COVID-era cozies, men’s wardrobes have shifted to more casual pieces (although this casualness has been prevalent since the “casual Fridays” of the ‘90s). Today, companies are redoubling their efforts to get workers to return to the office. This, coupled with online trends like “corpcore” and “office sirens,” has younger workers considering the classics.

This new crop of independ­ent menswear brands, with younger founders and operating in trendy parts of the city, have risen to meet the moment, ex­panding the definition of British tailoring to one that blends the classic craftsmanship of the United Kingdom with the con­ temporary ease of Italy and elsewhere in Europe. And they’re doing it while offering a personable and creative relationship between tailor and client.

Founder of men’s lifestyle magazine WM Brown, Matt Hranek, who owns a number of Savile Row suits, acknow­ledges that both traditional and modern brands have their merits. “The grand Savile Row houses are beautiful and ro­mantic, and they have the patterns of movie stars, but I do think they can be on the strict and unyielding side of tailoring,” he says. Huntsman, the bespoke house immortalized in the Kingsman films, and Gieves & Hawkes, tailors to the Royal Family, are good examples of the Row’s legacy. Yet their com­mitment to their respective conservative house styles can make the experience intimidating and, at times, limiting.

“The craft is incredible, but to be honest with you, I end up taking things to my tailor in New York for finishing,” Hranek says. For him, the rigidity of the old­-school houses sometimes leaves little room for his personal preferences, like a softer, less-structured shoulder that gives a suit a more lived­-in feel.

What makes the new wave of tailors so compelling, he notes, is their willingness to collaborate. “I think they’re better at listening to what the customer wants,” he says. “You end up shopping at modern suiting brands like Anglo-­Italian if you like their house style—which I really do: I like the tone, I like the philosophy, I like the use of material—but they’re going to listen to you. They’re more open to evolving a design to fit someone’s personal tastes. Just because brand X has a shoulder that has been constructed the same way for 100 years doesn’t mean it shouldn’t adapt.”

One standout in this resurgence is Drake’s. Originally a maker of scarves and handmade ties in the 1970s, the brand was reinvigorated under creative director Michael Hill in 2010. Expanding into a full line of what it calls “relaxed elegance,” Drake’s now offers everything from softly tailored jackets to vibrant knitwear, all imbued with a youthful energy that bal­ances U.S. prep with British details. Collaborations with buzz­ worthy brands like Aimé Leon Dore have cemented its place in the modern menswear landscape.

In 2022, Drake’s moved its London flagship from nearby Clifford Street to Savile Row itself, bringing a younger, more casual clientele to the historic street—along with price points that feel far more approachable than off-the-rack options from the traditional houses.

Now, these tailors and brands are proving that British menswear isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. They are crafting mens­wear that feels perfectly at home in 2025, from Anglo-Italian’s mix of sensibilities to Natalino’s Neapolitan tailoring for less, and reinterpreting tradition for a new generation, blending heritage with modernity in a way that’s impossible to ignore—and impossible not to love. Here are some of the most ­buzzed­-about London­-based brands in menswear right now.

London’s Calling

The very best tailors taking over Europe, one suit at a time.

Anglo-Italian

Founded in 2017 by Jake Grantham, Anglo-Italian blends the best of two sartorial worlds: the softness and ease of Italian tailoring and the sober formality of London style. True to its name, the brand takes an international approach, offering customized pieces handcrafted in London and Tuscany alongside a ready-to-wear lineup that ranges from hefty barn jackets to Italian-made denim. The real charm, though, is the inviting and attentive staff who go above and beyond to help customers find exactly what they need, creating an experience as refined as the clothing itself.

Natalino

Tucked away on Oxford Street, Natalino’s new IRL space is a sleek departure from the vintage-inspired menswear stores we’re used to and signals its evolution from an online favourite to a key player in modern tailoring. Founded by former Merrill Lynch employee Nathan Lee, the brand was inspired by his love of Neapolitan bespoke suits and his desire to make them more accessible.

The price (around $1,000) is particularly impressive as the jackets are crafted in Naples and the trousers in Portugal—with all the sharp Italian details and more flair than your average SuitSupply set. Although strictly ready-to-wear, the collections also include sharp shirts, knitwear and accessories, all available for international shipping.

Speciale

Farther west on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, Speciale’s atelier is a little slice of Florence in the heart of London. Founded by George Marsh and Bert Hamilton Stubber, the brand draws on their years of experience working in both London and Florence. Marsh, trained under a legendary Florentine tailor, handles every suit from start to finish, bringing attention to detail that limits production to a small number of suits per year.

But fret not—Speciale’s atelier and online store offer a thoughtfully curated selection of shirts, knitwear, ties and even denim. The suits themselves are quietly elegant and have gained a loyal following for their impeccable comfort and timeless appeal. For Speciale, tailoring doesn’t have to shout to make a statement.

L.E.J.

Luke Walker launched L.E.J. in 2020 after stints with brands in Paris, Milan and London, crafting pieces that tip their hats to classic tailoring without diving into full-on sports jackets or ties. Instead, L.E.J. offers a contemporary take on traditional craftsmanship, combining high-quality fabrics with relaxed, flowing shapes. Its Plage coat, in particular, stands out—a mix between a chore coat and a blazer, it’s versatile, utilitarian and effortlessly stylish.

While there is no permanent storefront yet, forward-thinking shops like Vancouver’s Neighbour have taken notice and stock a solid selection. L.E.J. might not play by the traditional rules, but that’s exactly the point.

This article first appeared in FASHION’s April 2025 issue. Find out more here.