Thom Sweeney, English Tailor to Celebrities Opens in Los Angeles

LONDON — Whereas Los Angeles could also be finest recognized for its laid-back menswear, there’s an underlying urge for food for English tailoring made from wealthy wool or cotton with satin peak lapels, in accordance with Thom Sweeney cofounders Thom Whiddett and Luke Sweeney. The Savile Row-trained tailors simply opened a retailer on Melrose Place within the metropolis.

“Los Angeles could be very dressed down and nobody wears fits, which appears a bit loopy for us, however we really feel there’s an enormous alternative for guys to really gown up correctly — and so they’re craving to decorate up,” Sweeney contended.

“The U.S. as a marketplace for us has at all times been our second house after the U.Ok. and a form of pure step,” Whiddett added.

Ever for the reason that duo arrange store in London 15 years in the past with a small clientele of 20 to 30 males, two or three Individuals have at all times been amongst them.

The primary Thom Sweeney retailer opened on Weighhouse Avenue in 2009, adopted by a second retailer on Bruton Place in 2014, then a gap in New York in 2017 and the introduction of The Thom Sweeney city home in 2020 on Outdated Burlington Avenue in London.

The model’s inaugural Los Angeles area, designed by Billy Cotton, sits on a nook constructing off Melrose Place and imitates a gents’s membership for purchasers to take a seat, attempt on fits and sip whiskey from the built-in bar. The ground shares Thom Sweeney’s ready-to-wear collections and affords its made-to-measure companies by appointment solely.

The non-public area, which options artwork and furnishings from Leclaireur Gallery, means excessive paying purchasers or stylists can are available in discreetly — the latter turning into a booming enterprise.

“In turnover it’s positively important and it’s good to be right here [in Los Angeles] dressing the correct folks. There’s just a few members’ golf equipment opening right here now and the factor with dressing is that it’s fairly excessive — it’s both actually informal or actually particular with a gorgeous go well with that pushes it somewhat bit additional than the remainder. Being within the center doesn’t actually cater to anybody,” Whiddett mentioned.

“In L.A. they’re ready to put money into one thing somewhat bit extra particular as a result of it’s so occasion pushed,” Sweeney added. “We’re making some actually attention-grabbing items on the bespoke aspect — there’s a lot motion right here and tailoring positively has a spot.”

Thom Sweeney’s roster of movie star purchasers for its fits embrace James Marsden, Jesse Williams, Ben Affleck, Rob Lowe, Robert Downey Jr. and Michiel Huisman.

Being an English model has given the corporate an edge in opposition to different extra runo-of-the-mill tailoring manufacturers or luxurious homes that solely specialise in traditional tailoring.

Past L.A., Whiddett and Sweeney are eyeing up a November opening for a 3rd U.S. retailer, in Miami.

“It’s a sunnier extension of New York with the unstructured jackets and open neck shirts. Miami felt like a pure development as a result of we’ve got a presence in New York. The market right here is basically vibrant and the economic system is nice,” Whiddett defined.

The enterprise duo are bringing old skool buying values with them wherever they go, from the model of service to the furnishings. An added function that’s being included in each retailer is Sol’s, a cocktail bar and lounge named after Whiddett’s late father-in-law, Sol Kerzner.

The bar has an emotional attachment, which Whiddett and Sweeney hope to develop into one thing larger within the coming years, the identical approach Ralph Lauren has carried out with The Polo Bar.

Additionally within the playing cards for the model is increasing into Asia and the Center East, together with additional developments in Europe.