London tailor Kathryn Sargent, London’s first female head cutter, is launching her first shop on Savile Row
Trailblazing tailor Kathryn Sargent is breaking down gender barriers on Savile Row one stitch at a time.
Sargent, who became Britain's first female head cutter and master tailor in 2009, has just launched a new store on the historic street – the first woman to do so in its entire 350-year history.
The shop will be sister to Sargent’s established atelier on Brook Street, tailoring for both men and women.
Sargent said: “I am delighted to be opening a shop on Savile Row. As a tailor it has been a long-held ambition of mine, and throughout my career, I have upheld the excellent values of Savile Row."
"I am thrilled to be making history, although for me being a woman is incidental, I am a tailor first and foremost.”
Before setting up her own business, Sargent was the first woman in the history of Savile Row to rise to the esteemed position of head cutter at Gieves & Hawkes.
Women have always had a hand in creating suits for London high society, but were relegated to the back rooms as finishers and assistant tailors for centuries.
William Skinner, chairman of the Savile Row Bespoke Association, said it was fitting that "the first woman to be appointed as a head cutter on Savile Row is returning, to open a shop of her own".