When you melt classic British clothing with a bit of modern taste, with focus on quality rather than on the cheap fashion trends, you get Hackett - the fashion house that lifts you above the usual suit-and-tie crowd.
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In 1979, Jeremy Hackett and Ashley Lloyd-Jennings meet in the Portobello Road, West London both combing the market for good second-hand traditional British men's clothing. A business partnership is soon started with a small stall in Portobello themselves, selling on the clothing after cleaning and repairs.
With a thriving small business in Portobello, Jeremy Hackett and Ashley Lloyd-Jennings make a big step up and open their first shop under the name "Hackett†at the wrong end, as their bank manager observed, of the New Kings Road in Parson's Green, London. Still selling fine quality second-hand traditional British clothing and accessories, discovered in house clearances and numerous antique markets, Hackett soon gains cult status aided by interest in "Young Fogeydom†and the "Sloane Ranger handbook".
It becomes apparent that market demand will always exceed supply of quality second-hand clothing and accessories and Hackett and Lloyd-Jennings decide that the answer is to manufacture from new, to complement the second-hand offering. Starting from scratch but working with traditional manufacturers, they are able to create their ideal range of clothing and accessories based on their extensive knowledge of British men's style. The range contains all their favourites but displays a bold use of colour and pattern, presenting a fresh take on British men’s style attracting the sons of the then archetypal Savile Row customer.
Such is the continuing success of the first shop in Parson’s Green that Hackett opens more shops in the locality; one for shirts and ties, one for tailoring, a specialist formalwear shop, a barber’s and gentlemen’s accessories shop, and finally a sportswear shop. All are within a hundred yards of each other and the area becomes affectionately known by London cabbies as "Hackett Cross".
Hackett first becomes involved in the sport of polo. Approached by two army officers looking for sponsorship, the Hackett Polo Team is formed and plays out of Guards Polo Club. This is the beginning of the Hackett polo shirt. Originally made solely for the team, Hackett customers who have spent a pleasant afternoon up at Smith’s Lawn keep asking to buy the shirts. Jeremy and Ashley eventually relent and the rest is history. Hackett is still involved in polo today with teams in the UK, Spain and France. ■