The professional life of one of Savile Row’s best-known characters has been captured in a new book published next month titled, ‘The Savile Row Cutter’. Now Chairman of Dege & Skinner and a Master Cutter, Michael Skinner’s career started in 1952 when he joined the family firm as an 18 year old and he has since trained a great number of the bespoke tailors currently plying their trade on the Row.
Told through his craft and written ‘in conversation’ with Michael by author Hormazd Narielwalla, the book provides a fascinating insight into the life and work of a Master Tailor who has been at the forefront of bespoke tailoring for more than 50 years.
Dressing Royalty and some of the most distinguished and stylish gentlemen around the world, the book features anecdotes and photographs collected during the firm’s long and illustrious history; the launch into the Japanese market and award of a design contract to Ohga Co. Ltd, tales of actress Joanna Lumley and her beloved Dege ‘knickers’, Captain Mark Phillips at his wedding to Princess Anne in 1973, 1960’s band The Kinks and 2010’s Ryder Cup European Captain Colin Montgomerie, seen putting across the beautiful wooden floor of the shop in 2000. In fact, Michael may be the only Master Cutter in the world to have designed uniforms for a camel pipe band, although he does comment, “they were not the easiest things to measure, alternating between spitting and kicking”!
The book also features by special permission, a reprint of the double portrait of Prince William and Prince Harry by Nicky Philipps, which was unveiled last year and currently hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London. In that portrait both Princes are wearing the No.1 Dress Uniform of the Household Cavalry (Blues & Royals), created for them by Dege & Skinner.
The Saville Row Cutter will be available to buy from www.bene-factum.co.uk, Amazon and a number of other outlets for the cover price of £25.00.
