Henry Poole & Co

Henry Poole & Co
Company type	Private
Industry	Retailer, bespoke tailoring
Founded	1806; 218 years ago
Founder	James Poole
Headquarters	15 Savile Row, postalcode W1S 3PJ, London, England
Key people	Angus Cundey (owner); Simon Cundey (director);
Products	Clothing, fashion
Website	www.henrypoole.com

Henry Poole & Co is a bespoke tailor located at Savile Row in London, United Kingdom . The company made its first modern-style dinner jacket, based on specifications provided by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) in the 1880s.^{[citation needed]} Their headquarters is 15 Savile Row, however they have multiple locations.

History

Customers examine the wares of Henry Poole and Co. in their 18th century showroom on Savile Row (1944)

A view of the workroom at Henry Poole and Co., showing tailors at work on various types of jacket, including a naval officer's jacket, second from right on the rear row. The men are all sitting on the workbenches. (1944)

The business first opened in Brunswick Square, in 1806, originally specializing in military tailoring, with particular merit at the time of the Battle of Waterloo. The business moved to Savile Row in 1846, following the death of founder James Poole. Henry Poole ran the business until his death in 1876, and he was succeeded by cousin Samuel Cundey, whose legacy continued for five generations to the present-day owners Angus Cundey and Angus's son Simon.

The company holds royal warrants of appointment and services the Lord Chamberlain's office with court dress. Their livery department created uniforms for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

The Dinner Suit

In 1860, Henry Poole made a short evening or smoking jacket for the Prince of Wales to wear at informal dinner parties at Sandringham. In 1886, James Potter of Tuxedo Park, New York, visited London and subsequently was invited by the Prince to spend a weekend at Sandringham House. He was also advised that he could have a smoking jacket made by the Prince's tailors, Henry Poole & Co.

When the Potters returned to New York, Potter wore his new smoking jacket at the Tuxedo Club and fellow members soon started having copies made for themselves which they adopted as their informal uniform for club "stag" dinners. As a result, the dinner jacket became known as a tuxedo or tux in America.^[1]

Warrants

Henry Poole has had customers who belonged to royalty and the highest aristocracy. Amongst the many customers who issued official warrants or were regulars were: