merchant taylors hall

Hawthorne & Heaney at The BTBA Summer Party 18

July 9, 2018 by Natasha Searls-Punter

A warm mid summer evening has become the mark of the BTBA Summer Party and this year’s do was no exception. The very best dressed of London’s tailoring community congregated on Friday evening in the gorgeous Merchant Taylors’ Hall to mark the occasion.

The party includes the presentation to those who have earned their Savile Row Bespoke Cutting diploma such as Kathryn Sargent’s Alistair Nimmo, whom we must congratulate along with the others who earned their certificates.

The Hawthorne & Heaney team were there to enjoy the celebrations and spread the love for embroidery. It was great to see everyone, but if you missed us, pop by to the studio and say hello!

Hawthorne & Heaney at the BTBA

August 1, 2016 by Natasha Searls-Punter

At the start of July each year the Benevolent Tailors’ Beneficiary Association Summer Ball comes knocking stylishly on London’s door and Hawthorne & Heaney was there this year to answer it’s call. The Summer Ball is the more informal of the two annual BTBA Balls, one might think that there would not be that much to see on a sartorial front; however this is not the case. As a meeting of the majority of Savile Row and its associates it is a great place to show off your wears with the cream of London’s Tailoring Community present.

The event is held at the beautiful Merchant Taylors’ Hall and guests include Tailors, Cutters, Fabric Merchants and of course Embroiderers as we were there!

The BTBA hosts these events in order to raise money to aid and award grants when necessary to anyone who has worked in British tailoring at any level for a period of ten years or more. It was formed from a merger of the British tailoring industry’s two oldest and most revered charities – the Master Tailors’ Benevolent Association (est. 1887) and the Tailors’ Benevolent Institute (est. 1861). It is also a great opportunity to celebrate the tailors who are moving up into a new stage of their careers as they receive their awards from Savile Row Bespoke.

Here are a few pictures to give you a flavour of the evening.

Kathryn Sargent, Chris Kerr and Andy Varnava

We can’t wait for the Winter Ball to come around so we can do it all again.

Hawthorne and Heaney at the Golden Shears 2015

March 21, 2015 by Natasha Searls-Punter

This time of year, one of the most prestigious awards for young aspiring tailors is awarded. As a steward of the Bespoke Tailors Benelovent Association, our director Claire Barrett attended this years event.

The prize is awarded to the student who is considered to have produced the best tailored outfit with consideration given to fit, style and suitability. The students featured are all practising in the industry currently as the award has a particular emphasis on learning within the industry. The most respected and skilled tailors judge the competition, headed up by Chairman of the judges, Robert J Bright; with Jonathan Becker, Alan Bennett, Joe Morgan, Kathryn Sargent and Brigette Stepputtis as technical judges. These esteemed tailors represent the best the industry has to offer, working for companies such as Davis & Sons, Chittleborough & Morgan and Vivienne Westwood. Assisting the technical judges were the guest judges which, this year, comprised of Jodie Kidd, David Gandy, Betty Jackson CBE, Jennifer Saunders and Lord Grade of Yarmouth CBE.

25 outfits were presented from which the three prizes were awarded. Joe Holsgrove won the 2015 Golden Shears with Dionne Reeves taking the Silver Shears and Nuriya Kabirova winning the Rising Star award. It is truly exciting to see the work of the future tailors, our congratulations to the winners, we can’t wait to see what next years competitors will produce.