PICTURED: ADRIAN BARKER, NICHOLAS FUGLER, AND CHARLES SEATON.
Jermyn Street’s Open Door Series will be honouring the brands and businesses that make our street the home of gentleman’s style, and the pinnacle of British craftsmanship, by spotlighting your favourite brands, and the people behind them, as we get ready to invite you through our doors once more!
New & Lingwood, a bastion of classic gentleman’s attire was founded by Elizabeth New and Samuel Lingwood in Eton. The original shop still exists today, as does New & Lingwood’s ties with Eton College, while in London their Jermyn Street store ensures the modern gentleman has all his sartorial needs met.
Elizabeth New and Samuel Lingwood founded New & Lingwood in 1865. The brand’s location in Eton meant they quickly established themselves as the premier supplier for pupils and masters at Eton College alike. The exceptional quality of materials and attention to detail that enabled their success, is still present today, as is their relationship with Eton – they are the official uniform suppliers and have been for the past 150 years. Elizabeth New and Samuel Lingwood were not just partners in business but also in marriage, however upon Samuel Lingwood’s death in 1916 the business floundered, briefly going into the hands of the courts, before Elizabeth valiantly righted the brand and resumed business. The experience of near-bankruptcy seemed to have spurred Elizabeth on and upon her death in 1931 the business was stronger than ever. She was quite a character and records reveal that on St Andrew’s Day she would sit in the window of her shop and allow the townspeople to pay homage to her in the style of Queen Victoria.
The connection with her Queen did not stop there, and in 1887 Elizabeth painted her storefront white in celebration of the monarch’s Golden Jubilee. Queen Victoria was so pleased by this, that she wrote to Elizabeth saying the shop looked “so pleasant”, she hoped it would be painted white in perpetuity. This one small link was to foreshadow New & Lingwood’s strong relationship with the royal family. They have enjoyed The patronage of both Princess Mary of Teck (later Queen Mary) and Queen Victoria’s third daughter, Princess Helena and today New & Lingwood still enjoys a close relationship with the palace having dressed Princes Charles, William and Harry.
Upon Elizabeth’s death the brand was given over to investors and in 1922 New & Lingwood opened their first store on Jermyn Street. This move to the capital meant the brand received an influx of attention and new customers, and was quickly to become regarded as one of London’s best shirtmakers. The original New & Lingwood store was completely obliterated during the Blitz, but shortly after they re-established themselves at 53 Jermyn Street where their iconic store remains to this day. Though their location changed their core values did not, and the house has gone from strength to strength absorbing two shoemakers Poulsen Skone & Co. and J. Gane & Co, as well as bespoke shirtmaker Bowring Arundel in 1994 – thus adding years of expertise to their already impressive heritage.
Today, New & Lingwood offer personal tailoring, which they believe to be one of life’s genuine privileges. Choose from a large range of fabric from the world’s best mills and work with one of their master cutters on a truly unique piece. Or if you are in need of an elegantly made shirt New & Lingwood invite you to enjoy their Bespoke Shirting service where, after you have established your preferred style and fit with one of their master shirt cutters, they record your exact pattern into their legers which date back to 1922, to ensure you can access the most luxurious made-for-you shirts, upon request. Today, the modern brand also produces some of the world’s finest loungewear while drawing on its tailoring heritage to create collections that marry classic and contemporary relaxed British style. Their exquisite range, including silk pyjama sets and magnificent ready-to-wear and custom-made dressing gowns, are the perfect additions to the modern gentleman’s wardrobe.
New & Lingwood really have withstood and triumphed under the test of time, appreciating that the notion of the English Gentleman is more fluid than ever. New and Lingwood create collections that excite, while still channeling the quintessential sartorial style that originally put their name on the map and their celebrated store, on Jermyn Street.