How a Female Tailor is Changing the Face of Savile Row Suits
HAX, a youthful tailoring house on Savile Row, is revolutionizing the bespoke suit experience, particularly for women. Founded by 27-year-old Hattie Glendenning, the shop has attracted celebrity clientele, including Sophie Turner and Lady Amelia Windsor.
Glendenning, who first worked on Savile Row as a teenager, expressed her desire to make tailoring more accessible. “For a long time it felt like the tailoring world was quite stuffy,” she remarked. “It was really inaccessible. There wasn’t much for women and the price points were so high.” Her approach aims to create a welcoming atmosphere for clients—a necessity in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
While HAX has both male and female clients, Glendenning’s approach to made-to-measure womenswear has put her on the map.
At HAX, the process begins with a consultation where Glendenning takes measurements and discusses options such as color and fabric. “Do you want it to be slinky or do you want it to feel rigid?” she asks clients, highlighting the personal nature of tailoring. Most fabrics are sourced from Dugdale, a British cloth merchant. “We would be nowhere without the cloth we use,” she noted. Glendenning prides herself on the versatility of her designs, stating, “The options are endless, and the creativity can roam free.”
The clientele at HAX is diverse, encompassing individuals preparing for their first suits to those seeking wedding outfits. Glendenning finds special joy in dressing grooms for their nuptials. “You go through this wedding process with someone, and you have to very sadly wave goodbye at the end of it when they take that lovely suit,” she shared, noting that many clients return for future occasions.
Historically, Savile Row emerged in the 1730s as an offshoot of the Burlington Estate, attracting skilled tailors to meet the demands of wealthy locals. Ironically, despite its predominantly male clientele, the street was named after Lady Dorothy Savile, wife of the 3rd Earl of Burlington. The first female-owned tailor, Kathryn Sargent, opened on Savile Row in 2016, marking a significant milestone in the area’s history.
Today, Glendenning advocates for the importance of made-to-measure options for women. “If you look further back, women always used to have their clothes made,” she observed, contrasting with modern trends toward ready-made garments. She believes bespoke tailoring is a powerful confidence booster, stating, “I feel my female clients when they come in. It’s like a sigh of relief.”
Interview conducted by Laura Jackson.
