Hackett (clothing brand)
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| Industry | Fashion Apparel |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1979 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Key people | Jeremy Hackett |
| Website | www.hackett.com |
Hackett is an upmarket, British Gentlemen's clothing company founded and headed by noted classic menswear designer Jeremy Hackett. Its style is heavily influenced by traditional British dress, described by Hackett as 'evolutionary not revolutionary'.
History
Beginnings
Hackett was founded in 1983 by Jeremy Hackett and Ashley Lloyd-Jennings from a stall on London's Portobello Road.[1] The first shop, on the "wrong end" of King's Road, in London Chelsea district, was selling only used clothes.[2]
The company gradually expanded over several years, increasing the number of branches and moving from acquiring and selling second-hand clothing to designing and selling its own items. International expansion began with the 1989 opening of a Spanish branch in Madrid. Branches in the UK include Jermyn Street, Regent Street, Eastcheap, Covent Garden and Hackett has expanded to include several prime cities in Europe.
Alfred Dunhill bought a majority stake in the company in 1992. This cash injection facilitated the opening of the flagship store in Sloane Street the same year. This branch remains the largest and most comprehensive of the UK shops.[3]
Recent History
In June 2005, the company was sold by Richemont to the Spanish investment company Torreal.[1] Since then, Hackett has continued to expand internationally and now[when?] operates from 77 stores in sixteen countries across the globe.
As well as expanding geographically, the company has increased its range of services. As well as manufacturing and selling clothing items, Hackett now[when?] offers personal and bespoke tailoring, a range of spectacles, grooming products, and a barbers in their flagship store in Sloane Street, London.
Hackett appointed American creative director Michael Sondag, who joined Hackett from Tommy Hilfiger in 2005.[4][5]
No Hackett stores have yet[when?] been opened in the US but company founder, Jeremy Hackett, commented in a 2009 interview: "Yes, we looked at the US and got very close to opening on Madison [Avenue, New York] last autumn but we decided the time was not quite right" [4]
Sponsorships & Associations
Sponsorships
Hackett sponsors world sporting events, organisations and companies. Tailored clothing and accessories are designed and sold in connection with existing sponsorships including Aston Martin, the British Army Polo Team and the London Rowing Club. In 2009, Hackett became the official clothing supplier to the Oxford University and Cambridge University boat race [6]
The Hackett-sponsored Aston Martin Racing team were the winners of the GT1 class in the 2009 Le Mans 24-hour race, finishing 5th overall.
Regional sponsorship outside the UK is mostly consigned to Spain where, in association with the Santa Maria Polo Club, Hackett hosted the prestigious Sotogrande polo tournaments during the summers of 2008/2009 In 2010, Hackett is sponsoring the Klosters Snow Polo tournament, taking place at the Alpine Snow Club, Switzerland.
Hackett was the official clothing supplier for Lotus Racing for the 2010 Formula One season.
Associations
Hackett is associated with high-profile personalities who are either sponsored or endorsed by the brand.
Previous associations include the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning English rugby player Jonny Wilkinson [5] and actor Matthew Goode.
The actor and star of the film adaptations of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books, Robert Pattinson modelled for Hackett's Autumn/Winter 2007 collection.
In 2009, some of the world's leading tennis stars, including Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic modelled Hackett clothing for a photoshoot in conjunction with the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2009.
The central Sloane Street branch is reportedly the favourite clothes shop of OutKast vocalist and songwriter Andre “Andre3000” Benjamin.[7]
Products & Services
The Hackett style is inspired by traditional British men's clothing. Founder Jeremy Hackett describes this approach to design as "our clothes wear in, not out".[citation needed]
Clothing ranges and styles on offer include polo shirts, rugby shirts and formal/dress clothing for men and children. In September 2009, Esquire magazine featured a Hackett tie as one of its top 5 knitted ties.[8] Ranges are also offered in conjunction with sponsorships and partners such as Aston Martin Racing, the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, and the British Army Polo Team.
More recently, Hackett has branched out into other, more diverse areas, offering bespoke men's tailoring, hairdressing, and tax-free shopping in selected stores in London
Shops & Stores
UK Branches
Hackett now operates from a total of thirteen UK locations with its flagship store in Sloane Street, London. Branches are established in five cities across Great Britain, including London, York and Edinburgh.
International Branches
Sixty-four Hackett branches have been opened outside the UK, mainly in Europe and Asia but also in Mexico and Japan.
Hackett capitalised on Spanish interest in British fashion by opening a shop in Madrid in 1989, quickly followed by a business partnership with Spanish department store chain El Corte Inglés. This initial collection of stores has since grown to a total of 31 stores in Spain, outnumbering the total number currently[when?] in the UK.
Hackett now[when?] has a presence in thirty countries worldwide. In December 2009 a new flagship store was opened on the Boulevard des Capucines, Paris.
External links
References
- ^ a b Butler, Sarah (2005-06-03). "Spanish buy Hackett for 15m". The Times. London. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
- ^ Menkes, Suzy (January 11, 2010). "Hackett: A 'Heritage' That's Oh-So-British". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
- ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-10888855.html
- ^ a b http://www.drapersonline.com/jeremy-hackett/5004500.article
- ^ a b http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/730740/Work-New-campaigns---UK Cite error: The named reference "Brand Republic" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ http://www.theboatrace.org/article/newsandmedia/boatrace/newhackettdeal/
- ^ http://steelcloset.com/tag/andre-benjamin
- ^ http://www.esquire.co.uk/2009/09/top-five-knitted-ties/