User:Eyeontherow/Timothy Everest

Timothy Everest MBE is one of the leaders of the New Bespoke Movement which brought a designer mindset to the traditional values of Savile Row. He gained extensive knowledge of the art of bespoke working with Tommy Nutter on Savile Row, and has been running his own successful tailoring business since the early 1990s.

Background
From a young age Everest was interested in clothing and fashion trends. Having moved from Wales to Canterbury with his parents, he was given a job with a great-uncle at a high street tailor named Hepworths, which would later become part of the Next retail empire.

Subsequently moving to London, Everest answered a newspaper advertisement by Tommy Nutter calling for 'boy wanted'. Everest's time under Nutter, Savile Row revolutionary of the 1960s, inspired him to experiment with tone and pattern in his own designs.

In 1986, after five years as Nutter's apprentice, Everest moved on to work for Malcolm Levene. He had become disillusioned with Savile Row, particularly their lacking appreciation of Nutter's more modern approach. As such, working with Levene, a small menswear retailer based away from the Row, on Chiltern street, provided a welcome change.

From Chiltern street Everest ventured into the world of styling. In the late 1980s, he worked as a freelance stylist for films and music videos, styling clients such as George Michael and other contemporary bands. By this time, with ambitions to create his own brand, Everest focussed his efforts on finding a base away from the traditional frontage of Savile Row. His involvement in the influential fashion scene led him towards London's East End. Though the area was in need of some revitalisation, it was here Everest opened his first shop in 1991, within the previous home of an 18th century silk weaver.

Part of a new tailoring generation sensing a shifting public attitude towards the more traditional styling of Savile Row, Everest along with contemporaries; Ozwald Boateng and Richard James sought to revitalise bespoke suiting. The New Bespoke Movement that they set in motion took the techniques perfected on Savile Row and used them to push the boundaries of 'modern suit making and bespoke active wear, creating more contemporary silhouettes with bolder fabrics.'

Successfully gauging the public mood had meant Everest’s business was booming. As such, he eventually moved around the corner to his current premises on Elder Street, which had been the home of Bloomsbury artist: Mark Gertler

Everest describes himself as "a tailor who designs, not a designer who tailors", and his Savile Row background has kept his retailing style more reserved. His atelier in Spitalfields has no shop sign, and no window display as such, just a garment placed in the window to suggest that the house is a shop. The business is aimed at young professionals with the means to purchase bespoke tailoring, but not necessarily the desire to visit Savile Row. Each customer is measured so that an individual pattern can be drafted and used to hand-cut their chosen cloth.

Everest's latest range is a bespoke casual collection, and like the New Bespoke Movement, this is set to alter the world of menswear. Jeans, casual shirts, smart-casual jackets, are no longer the domain of the High Street retailer and the off-the-peg market. Those discerning men who want something different, elegant and unique can now get Savile Row quality applied to their casual wardrobes as well.

DAKS
In 1991 DAKS was bought by the Sankyo Seiko Group of Japan and a new team was drafted in to overhaul the brand. This team was headed up by Everest, who was appointed Creative Director of the British brand from 2000-2003. Everest created a new range called DAKS E1, after the postcode of his new atelier, which was aimed at a younger customer while retaining the original values of the brand.

Marks and Spencer
For the past 10 years Everest has acted as Creative Consultant to Marks & Spencer on the Sartorial and Luxury collections; making fine tailoring accessible to the greater population.

Consulting for Marks & Spencer's formalwear led to Everest designing menswear for its Autograph range. In order to create a modern, yet classic collection, Everest utilised unusual fabrics such as a grey denim-look wool, alongside more traditional designs such as a Prince of Wales check.

‘Autograph by Timothy Everest’ campaigns have been fronted by the likes of Brian Ferry and Take That and endorsed by the England National Football Team for whom Timothy designed the 2008 off-field uniform. Furthermore, Marks & Spencer's was also chosen as the Official Tailor to the England football team for the FIFA World Cup 2010. This not only includes the senior team but also encompasses all England teams competing internationally. The suits are designed by Everest and are made-to-measure. Everest has also designed shirts, ties, cufflinks and belts to accompany the suits.

Bumble & Bumble
In 2006, Everest launched a bespoke denim line in collaboration with New York hair salon Bumble and bumble. His collection debuted in a store in the city's fashionable meat-packing district, offering high quality Japanese denim in a variety of washes. The retail space also featured a barbershop and teahouse, making it a destination location.

Rapha
In 2009, Everest began a collaboration with cyclewear brand Rapha Performance Roadwear. Together, the two have developed a bespoke suit which can be worn while riding a bike. The suit is inspired by the design of classic cycling clothing combined with functionality and elegance. Defining features include; a high button fastening to keep the jacket closely fitted to the body, a lapel pocket for an mp3 player, pleats at the shoulders and centre back to allow extra fabric when the rider is bent over the bicycle, and a blended wool which uses nano-technology so that water runs off it. Furthermore, this suit now has a ready-to-wear counter part, as of 2010.

Further Collaboration
Additionally, Everest has worked on many unique and exciting collaborations for designers and brands such as Kim Jones, Rocawear, Levis/ Oki–Ni, and Louis Vuitton. Everest regularly collaborates with such distinguished brands allowing for the creation of products, which are highly individual.

Current ongoing projects include collaborations with Urwerk, creators of innovative timepieces; as well as Everest’s ongoing role as Creative Contributor and Sartorial Advisor for new luxury gentleman’s magazine The Rake.

Clientele
Today Everest has clients worldwide regularly traveling for fittings in New York, LA and Japan. Closer to home, Everest's bespoke atelier in Spitalfields has a client base ranging from the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, to Sports & Hollywood personalities such as David Beckham & Tom Cruise. Indeed of his Timothy Everest suit worn to the Oscars, Cruise commented: "Of course it fits; it's a Timothy Everest.'

Creatively, Everest's work across various platforms is diverse. He has created costumes for films such as Mission Impossible, Eyes Wide Shut, Atonement and Mamma Mia. He has dressed celebrities for the Oscars, designed the British Olympic Team uniforms for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and styled the Kaiser Chiefs at the Brit Awards in 2006.

Additional celebrity clients include; Anton Yelchin, Casey Spooner, David Beckham, James McAvoy, Jay Kay, Jeremy Irons, Jarvis Cocker, Jay-Z, Kaiser Cheifs, k.d. Lang, and Matthew Broderick.

Recent Award
Everest recieved an MBE in the Queen's 2010 New Year Honours List for his services to the British Fashion Industry. As one of the few tailors who has successfully established a global, multi-faceted business, the award is testament to his long and diverse experience. Everest himself, described the award as a "great honour, not only for me but my business and all who have been involved."