Budd is a high-end
tailor
A tailor is a person who makes or alters clothing, particularly in men's clothing. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the term to the thirteenth century.
History
Although clothing construction goes back to prehistory, there is evidence of ...
for shirts based in London's
Piccadilly Arcade. Budd was founded in 1910, and is known to cater to many notable figures of British
high society.
History
Budd was founded in 1910 by Harold Budd
as an exclusively bespoke shirtmaker. Its original premises were located in Piccadilly Arcade, adjacent to
Jermyn Street.
After bombing during the
Blitz, Budd bought premises opposite the original store, which were the only premises in the Arcade still standing. It is now the only original member of the Arcade still operating.
In 1983, Budd was acquired by the Webster Brothers, another British shirtmaker founded in 1847.
In 2013, Budd was acquired by a group led by Stephen Murphy, former owner of
Savile Row tailor
H. Huntsman & Sons and board member of the
Brown Thomas Group.
In 2020 Budd collaborated with model and photographer,
Laura Bailey and stylist Cathy Kasterine, to create a collection of shirts and nightwear for women under the Bailey x Budd label.
Methods and products
Budd is known for its highly traditional British style of shirtmaking,
and is described by ''
Spear's'' as demonstrating "heroic resistance to change".
It is said to be the only remaining shirtmaker in England with a cutting room still above the shop.
The primary Budd workshop is located in
Andover.
Budd's best known pattern is the Budd Stripe, also called the Edwardian Stripe, which dates to the 1930s.
It is also known for the Mess Shirt, originally made for army officers.
Today, Budd sells
ready-to-wear shirts as well as providing a
bespoke
''Bespoke'' () describes anything commissioned to a particular specification, altered or tailored to the customs, tastes, or usage of an individual purchaser. In contemporary usage, ''bespoke'' has become a general marketing and branding concep ...
service.
It also sells accessories including scarves, gloves, ties and collars.
Known patrons
*
Zac Goldsmith, politician
*
Ben Goldsmith, environmentalist
*
Lord Mountbatten, naval officer
*
Nicky Oppenheimer, diamond tycoon
*
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, financier
*
John Hurt, actor
*
Edward Fox, actor
Budd's shirts have also been worn by characters in film and TV, including
Matt Smith
Matthew Robert Smith (born 28 October 1982) is an English actor. He is known for playing the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' (2010–2013), Prince Philip in Netflix's historical series ''The Crown ( ...
in ''
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
''
and
Hugh Bonneville in ''
Downton Abbey
''Downton Abbey'' is a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes. It first aired in the United Kingdom on ITV (TV network), ITV on 26 September 2010 and in the United St ...
''.
Budd was referenced in the lyrics of the song the "Best of Everything" in the 1919 musical ''
La La Lucille'' by
George Gershwin
George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned jazz, popular music, popular and classical music. Among his best-known works are the songs "Swan ...
''"I go to Budd for my cravats,
Stetson makes my hats. A
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce (always hyphenated) may refer to:
* Rolls-Royce Limited, a British manufacturer of cars and later aero engines, founded in 1906, now defunct
Automobiles
* Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the current car manufacturing company incorporated in ...
, the best thing on wheels was my choice of automobiles"''.
References
{{reflist
Suit makers
1910 establishments in England