On Saturday, 11 March Urban Synergy mentees were introduced to ‘fine tailoring’ at Maurice Sedwell in Savile Row.
Established on Fleet Street in 1938, owner Maurice Sedwell moved the premises to 9 Savile Row in 1963. In 1988 Maurice Sedwell was purchased from the retiring Maurice Sedwell by Andrew Ramroop, a long-standing employee, now the store’s owner and our host. The business thrived in the 1980s and 1990s with a client list littered with Lords, Politicians, and even a member of the royal family. In 1994 the business moved to the larger premises of 19 Savile Row.
Today Maurice Sedwell is known for consistently producing fine hand-tailoring. In 2008, Andrew Ramroop opened The Savile Row Academy, the only professionally staffed school on Savile Row.
Dress smart for the interview, a special suit (the right style and colour to make a statement) worn for the interview could help you to land your dream job.Andrew Ramroop
On entering the store, mentees were able to note the many sampled suits, of various colours on display. After a warm welcome, mentees settled into the training school classroom where Andrew Ramroop, dressed elegantly in a made to measure suit, waistcoat, shirt and tie, explained that he was interested in clothing from a young age and often experimented by making garments out of newspaper back in his homeland Trinidad. His hand stitched ‘bespoke’ suits take over a hundred hours to make and use specially woven cloths, largely from Australia and can cost from £6,000 upwards.
Although there are may highlights to Andrew’s career, including making bespoke items for Princess Diana, and international clients such as Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson and late actor Tony Curtis, he says that it is the work and not money that gives him the most satisfaction.
Andrew gave the mentees advice on dressing to ‘make a statement’ and explained that all of his clients start of with a chat about themselves and what they like before any decisions are made on proceeding with their bespoke garment.
Urban Synergy Young Ambassador, Kofi who attended the workshop said:
‘I enjoyed visiting the store. It was a very powerful morning, hearing Andrew Ramroop talk about his journey.’
Mentee, Rae said:
‘i liked the fact the guy told us how he followed his dream even when he went through his bad moments getting fired etc. I enjoyed him telling us about all the effort you have to put in to make a suit and the different stages you had to go through’.
Mentee Diamen said:
‘I appreciated the honesty and inspiration given by Andrew’
Mentee Lee Ann said:
‘I loved the experience, it was inspiring’.
