To mark five decades of the prestigious Golden Shears Awards, Savile Row will host a two-week celebration during London Fashion Week 2025, honouring its long-standing role in nurturing British tailoring talent and craftsmanship.
In a landmark showcase, Savile Row tailors will come together to proudly display work from past entrants and winners of the awards, highlighting the industry’s enduring commitment to apprenticeships and the training of the next generation of bespoke tailors.
From student designers to apprentice makers, entries span the length and breadth of the UK, reflecting a nationwide dedication to both innovation and the safeguarding of heritage, while also acknowledging the wider influence of those who have helped shape the Golden Shears story.
The work will be exhibited in the windows of Savile Row’s renowned tailoring houses, offering the public a unique opportunity to engage with the legacy and future of British tailoring.
Dubbed the “Oscars of the tailoring world,” the Golden Shears Awards winners and entries from across the UK will be on display the length of Savile Row including at: Henry Poole & Co, Huntsman, Richard James, Dege & Skinner, Knatchbull, clothsurgeon, among many others.
In addition, The London Academy of Bespoke will host a two-week dedicated exhibition about the Golden Shears Awards, its history and past winners at 19 Savile Row, W1.
The showcase is presented by The Pollen Estate who are a long-term sponsor of the Golden Shears and a Patron of the British Fashion Council and by The Savile Row Bespoke Association.
The Golden Shears Awards are held every two years, and unites skilled fashion students and apprentice tailors, providing a platform to showcase their creative vision and technical excellence. This prestigious competition celebrates the next generation of UK tailoring and fashion talent. Founded in 1974 by Robert Bright, MBE, the Golden Shears proudly marked its 50th anniversary this year.
Jenny Casebourne, Head of Portfolio of The Pollen Estate comments:
“The Pollen Estate is a proud supporter of The Golden Shears. As custodians of Savile Row and surrounding streets, the next generation of tailors are important to our community and these awards are a testament to craftsmanship. We are excited to showcase these talented tailors on Savile Row, during London Fashion Week and to support the future generations to develop their skills. We hope this inspires young creative talent to enter a career in tailoring.”
Mark Henderson, Chairman of Savile Row Bespoke comments
“We are delighted to be partnering with The Pollen Estate in this project. For 50 years the Golden Shears have been a wonderful showcase for the hard work and talent of so many brilliant tailors – and it is wholly fitting that Savile Row should celebrate when so many past winners have either come from apprenticeships on the Row or have found careers here having won.”
Roxanne Jones, Bespoke Tailor (Coat & Vest Maker), winner of Golden Shears in 2007, still working here at Dege & Skinner: “Before I started my apprenticeship, I studied Handcraft Tailoring at London College of Fashion, and the Golden Shears competition was spoken of often, and highly regarded. When I started at Dege there was an expectation that I would enter from them so was fully supported with my ideas. I was only just over a year into my coat making apprenticeship when I entered, so I was just hoping to get through the first stage and into the final so my outfit could be on the runway!”
Emily Squires, 2013 Golden Shears winner, working at Henry Poole & Co. Comments:
“In an apprenticeship, you spend years repeating processes to perfect your skills, training your hands to stitch and your eyes to see how things should look.
The Golden Shears gave me the chance to create something entirely my own, making all the decisions on cut, cloth, and detail. I loved the process, especially trying techniques I wouldn’t usually use day to day, like hand-quilting linings.
I never expected to win, but after all the hard work, it was rewarding to have my skills recognised, especially by the tailors and cutters we work with.”
Mila Dastugue, 2023 Golden Shears Winner, (from Wimbledon College of Art, currently works at Thom Sweeney) comments: “What led me to tailoring in the first place was doing my BA at Wimbledon College of Arts in costume design. I really wanted to dive into tailoring at one point in my studies and in my last year we had the option of entering the Golden Shears competition. When I did my first pocket sample, my tailoring tutor, Josh (Trained at Edward Sexton, Cutter at Huntsman and Dobrik & Lawton), told me that if I was not to become a tailor it would be a waste. Thanks to that encouragement and the opportunity of the Golden Shears, I’ve been able to build a career in tailoring and am now an undercutter at Thom Sweeney.”
