Ask Richard Harvie, third generation of the Harvie and Hudsons, the secret to the brand’s ongoing success and he will tell you that it’s “the sizzle as well as the steak” that counts more than ever these days. From the soft floral notes of a Floris cologne wafting through the air to the neat, colour-coordinated stacks of beautiful linen shirts that line Harvie & Hudson’s Jermyn Street store, the customer he says, notices everything and expects a shopping experience like no other.
Co-founded in 1949 by Thomas Harvie and George Hudson, the sole-remaining family-owned shirtmakers on Jermyn Street has its own very individual style. That it is still making a splash after all these years is another reason to celebrate. As for the brand’s longevity Richard says: “It’s largely about having tenacity, paying constant attention to detail and evolving slowly but surely that sets us apart from the rest.”
When he is not busy on buying trips, Richard, together with fellow director Andrew Hudson who manages the brand’s made-to-measure shirtmaking department, can be found working on the shop floor. Indeed, seeing them here in person chatting with customers and seeing to their sartorial needs is all part of the job. “People are constantly surprised that we are a third-generation business and that we are often in the shop which to me is very important. It shows that we are listening to what people want and that can be incredible intel as it allows us to respond quickly. Also, I love it when I tell a new customer that I appreciate the sale as it’s my family’s company and see their jaws drop!”
The Harvie & Hudson store at 96/97 Jermyn Street has been a permanent fixture on Jermyn Street since the 1960s. “Jermyn Street is the home of menswear and I know that’s a cliche but it really is,” says Richard. “There’s nowhere in the world that you could find even a shopping mall that is more brimming with things that men want and want to wear so to me it’s super important that we remain here as one of the cornerstones. I would look at the idea of being in other places but there is nothing that comes close to Jermyn Street.”
Meanwhile, nothing says Harvie & Hudson more than exquisite quality, vibrant colours, bold stripes and checks. As for its renowned staples; beautifully-cut white, blue and pink shirts, navy jackets and year-round tweeds, they never go out of style.
There’s also an inner beauty to each garment, the way a jacket sits on the shoulders or fits in the sleeves, that is not necessarily obvious to the untrained eye. Says Richard: “We add small touches such as putting buttonholes on every suit jacket on the sleeves. You don’t use them but you know that they are there and can feel and see the quality of them. That’s what the customer enjoys most, the discreet details.”
Having built lasting relationships with mills and factories over the years, Harvie & Hudson continue to design everything from the ground up. For instance, there’s the high-end tie producer on Lake Como where colours and designs are specially created to ensure that each item is totally unique to the brand and the wearer. A quick glance across the Jermyn Street tie counter proves that you don’t find neckties like these anywhere else. But if you see one you like, you better snap it up immediately as Richard believes in making things in short runs to avoid any repetition and move the brand forward.
On the subject of moving with the times, Richard’s ‘how to dress’ tutorials on Harvie & Hudson’s Instagram page, are proving to be a hit especially with the younger generations. In a recent post, he gives his expert advice on a variety of sartorial dilemmas including what is ‘casual smart’ and ‘why would you even wear a tie at all?’
As summer turns to autumn, winter trousers, shirts and accessories in rich shades of bronze, burnt orange and green are already landing in store along with plenty of lovely new tweeds: “I never get bored of tweed – ever!” he says. “Tweed is so versatile and hardy. You can sling it around and it still comes back smiling.”
Finally, with gifting season just around the corner, there are plenty of wish-lists favourites to be discovered here including new-season evening wear, pyjamas and cashmere scarves. Alternatively, see our Christmas gift list, due out later this year, for our Harvie & Hudson top picks.