Thom Sweeny: settling in nicely

Thom Sweeny: settling in nicely - Permanent Style

I first met Thom Whiddett and Luke Sweeney through a very dashing friend of mine, JC. That’s him modelling Thom Sweeney tailoring, above. I can see why JC likes the style; it is very him: sharp, sleek, close and with a readiness for experimentation. Lapels are often high; a signature piece is the U-shaped waistcoat with a deep drop in the front (pictured top). Their look is contemporary and has received a lot of deserved attention.

Having now been a few times to see Thom and Luke, the thing that stays with me is their attractive little shop. First, it’s about 20 yards from Bond Street tube station – if you use the right exit. Which is convenient. Second, it is decorated with great taste and a clear fondness for iconic photography. You can tell it used to be an art gallery. And third, most importantly, I feel it is going through a pleasant process of growing into itself.

 

On the ground floor are two showrooms, a fitting room and Thom’s board (above). Downstairs is another board and four or five tailors – the usual mix of trendy apprentices and a master tailor of southern European extraction, who has worked for them all. Up a winding staircase are Thom and Luke’s offices, which are in the process of being refurbished to create more space and accommodate another cutting board.

 

 

It doesn’t yet have the worn-in elegance of Timothy Everest’s atelier in Shoreditch (where Thom and Luke used to work), or the rock n’ roll edge of Tom Baker’s backroom in Soho. But it has personality and promise – and very few new-build tailor shops achieve that.