THE LANTERN

RODERICK CHARLES
– 9
a traditional range of men’s suits and
accessories like other menswear stores,
but with an additional ready-to-wear range
catering to the legal fraternity. Opening a
store in close proximity to Lincoln’s Inn
made a lot of sense.”
Being so close to Lincoln’s Inn has
also had another benefit – providing an
eye-catching backdrop for many of the
Roderick Charles adverts. The most recent
shoot took place around the Great Hall,
New Square and Old Square, and also
featured a 1968 Jaguar MKII.
The campaign showcased the full
Roderick Charles collection from morning
dress and dinner jackets to classic suits,
plus more relaxed looks featuring tweed
jackets and brightly coloured chinos.
Everything about the collection is designed
to cater to the modern man looking for the
best traditions of English dress, without the
vagaries of trend-led fashion. So what’s
popular now?
Roddy hones in on the company’s
made-to-order service, which bridges the
gap between bespoke and ready-to-wear,
and offers a fast and convenient way for
customers to have a suit made to their
individual requirements.
“Our made-to-order suits are 95%
made in the UK. When a customer comes
to us for a suit he chooses his cloth – which
is manufactured in the UK – together with
the colour of the lining and thread, and we
take his measurements. We cut the chosen
cloth here in the UK and then send both
it and the measurements to our overseas
manufacturers. The finished suit then
Roddy Gale
comes back to us, ready for collection.”
For all Chancery Lane’s heritage and
tradition, the street has started to undergo
a dramatic transformation as new buildings
and office spaces open to diverse
occupants. So, we ask Roddy, will this
affect the market for traditional menswear?
“I predict that the arrival of established
creative industries in this part of town –
Saatchi & Saatchi are moving in soon – is
going to have an interesting effect on all
the businesses in the area. Our customer
base is certainly going to diversify and I’m
watching with interest.”
So, ahead of the impending arrival
of London’s Mad Men to the area, who
is currently the typical Roderick Charles
customer and what prompts their affection
for the brand?
Garth Sonley, manager of the Chancery
Lane store, describes his typical customer
as, “A gentleman who’s looking for quality,
who’s looking for excellent customer
service, industry knowledge and experience.
He wants a suit that’s going to fit him well –
the fit is always key – and a suit that’s going
to last.”
The longevity of the Roderick Charles
suit is due, in no small part, to the
company’s use of traditional worsted
cloth, sourced from mills in Leeds. Roddy
says, “A tailored suit should, typically, last
for around five years. Our wool comes
from one of the few woollen mills left in
Yorkshire. The worsted they produce is
comfortable, it’s easy to wear and most of
all, it’s durable. The traditional worsted suit
is the backbone of our business.”
It’s this approach to quality goods,
coupled with superb customer service that
has brought figures like Jeremy Paxman to
Roddy’s door. It’s also why men bring their
sons, and even their grandsons, to be fitted
for their first work suit.
So, does today’s younger customer
demand something a little more – dare we
say – modern? And how does Roddy see
that fitting with the traditions of tailoring?
“There is a challenge in this business to
stay relevant, whilst remaining true to the
traditions of tailoring. There are confines.
There has been a noticeable move over the
past decade for men to dress for comfort
as well as for style and that’s led to some
interesting trends.”
Garth agrees, “We’ll make a madeto-measure
suit with a narrower leg, a
Photography by Christian Couzens