Henry Poole & Co.
Established 1806Founded in 1806 by James Poole as a shop specialized in military tailoring, Henry Poole & Co today is a gentleman’s bespoke tailor. In 1846 Henry Poole took over the business from his father and he moved to 15 Savile Row – where the shop still is today. The company has remained a family-run business and holds many royal warrants.
The company is credited with the creation of the smoking jacket – or tuxedo in the US. In 1860, Henry Poole designed an evening jacket for the Prince of Wales. When Mr. James Potter of Tuxedo Park, New York, visited the Prince, he was advised that he could have a similar jacket made by the Prince’s tailors, Henry Poole & Co. Back home in New York, Mr. Potter wore his new jacket to the Tuxedo Club. Fellow members got inspired and had copies made. As a result, the smoking jacket became known as a tuxedo in America.
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