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| Turnbull & Asser | |
|---|---|
| Name | Turnbull & Asser |
| Industry | Clothing |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Founder | John Arthur Turnbull; Ernest Asser |
| Headquarters | London |
| Products | Shirts; Ties; Suits; Accessories |
Turnbull & Asser
Turnbull & Asser is a London-based bespoke shirtmaker and men's outfitter established in 1885, noted for providing shirts, ties, and tailored garments to politicians, actors, and royalty. The firm operates retail locations and supplies wardrobes for film and television productions, maintaining artisanal techniques alongside modern retail strategies. Its reputation links it to Savile Row tailoring traditions, British sartorial heritage, and international luxury markets.
Founded in 1885 by John Arthur Turnbull and Ernest Asser in London, the company grew through the late Victorian era into the Edwardian period, serving clientele from City of London financiers to Westminster politicians. During the interwar years it adapted to changing tastes influenced by figures like King George V and Edward VIII, while postwar demand from celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart elevated its profile. In the 1960s and 1970s Turnbull & Asser interacted with cultural movements tied to Swinging London, The Beatles, and designers on Savile Row, and later outfitted stars appearing at events like the Academy Awards and BAFTA Awards. The firm's archives document commissions connected to diplomatic visits involving embassies and delegations from United States, France, and Japan.
Turnbull & Asser produces bespoke, made-to-measure, and ready-to-wear shirts, ties, and suiting using hand-finished techniques associated with Savile Row traditions and craftsmen trained in workshops similar to those of Henry Poole & Co and Anderson & Sheppard. Fabrics are sourced from renowned mills such as Thomas Mason, Holland & Sherry, and Loro Piana, and patterns draw on historical examples worn by figures like Winston Churchill, Fred Astaire, and Sean Connery. Their shirting construction includes single-needle stitching, hand-linked seams, and collar construction paralleling methods used by Turnbull & Asser's peers on the Duke of York Street corridor; linings and button choices reference suppliers that have served houses like Turner & Co. and ateliers dressing The Royal Family. Ties employ seven-fold construction and silk from houses associated with Hermès and Liberty of London; shirts feature placket options popularized by Fred Astaire and cuff styles linked to Edwardian dress codes.
The firm holds historical associations with members of The British Royal Family and governments, providing garments for monarchs and statesmen at ceremonies such as State Opening of Parliament and diplomatic banquets. Notable clients have included actors Sean Connery, Daniel Craig, and Pierce Brosnan; musicians like Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones; and public figures such as John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, and Prince Charles. Turnbull & Asser has received royal recognition and supplied uniforms and shirts for events involving houses like Windsor and commissions related to occasions mirrored in archives of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
Originally centered in Jermyn Street, the company expanded retail operations with flagship stores in London and concessions in luxury department stores such as Harrods, Selfridges, and boutiques in capitals including New York City, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Overseas retail strategies targeted clients frequenting business districts like Wall Street and Canary Wharf, and tourism hubs near attractions such as Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus. International presence included pop-up collaborations timed with events like London Fashion Week and trade shows at venues comparable to Pitti Uomo.
Turnbull & Asser has collaborated with film costume designers for productions like the James Bond series, partnering with studios and designers associated with Eon Productions and costume houses that dressed franchises connected to Ian Fleming adaptations. Collaborations extended to artists and brands — working with couturiers and textile houses that have also served Dior Homme, Ralph Lauren, and Tom Ford — and participating in exhibitions at institutions akin to the Victoria and Albert Museum and private collections documenting British tailoring history. The firm's shirts and ties have appeared on red carpets at the Academy Awards, in television series broadcast on networks such as the BBC and HBO, and in photography by figures like Annie Leibovitz.
Over its history Turnbull & Asser has seen shifts from founder-led management to ownership structures involving private investors, family stakeholders, and partnerships with retail groups active in the luxury goods sector similar to holdings represented by Ralph Lauren Corporation and Kering. Governance models have balanced creative directors, managing directors, and boards that coordinate retail, bespoke workshops, and licensing agreements; corporate decisions take into account intellectual property and brand heritage protections akin to those used by houses like Burberry.
Marketing strategies have included product placement in films tied to James Bond, editorial features in magazines such as GQ, Esquire, and Vogue, and advertising campaigns photographed by contributors to publications like Vanity Fair. Media appearances encompass television interviews on outlets comparable to BBC Television and profiles in business titles like The Financial Times and The Economist, while social media and digital commerce efforts mirror practices common to luxury brands operating on platforms linked to Instagram and Net-a-Porter.
Category:Clothing companies of the United Kingdom