Cording's "Tweedy" Atmospheres ... at The Country Landowners Association Game Fair ...

Eric Clapton discussing his love for Cordings country clothing

WHEN ERIC CLAPTON RESCUED CORDING'S

CORDING'S 2003 – Present
In February 2003 the current management team approached Cordings best customer and asked if he would assist in a management buyout. A presentation was prepared for him and after 3 minutes of this carefully prepared presentation he declared he would support it, he never did hear the final 17 minutes. Suffice to say the best customer was Eric Clapton.

Since that date the emphasis has been firmly on tradition and re-establishing the reputation of quality. All merchandise is made to exclusive specifications from materials traditionally found in the UK. The marque of Cordings is now attracting back sons and grandsons of followers from previous decades.

The stylishly dressed guitarist moonlights as the co-owner and design Director and since February 2003 has been masterminding its re-launch. "My favourite pieces are the tweed shooting and hacking jackets" he says.

We now have a women's collection, this range was born out of the demand from women who came into the store with their husbands looking at the huge array of tweed on offer for men and requesting traditional hacking jackets made for women as well.

This range will be based on the five Cordings core products and specializing in items such as fitted tweed jackets, covert coats, rubberised mackintoshes, leather blazers and beautifully handmade Spanish riding boots.



Clapton rescues gentlemen's shop
Monday, 2 August, 2004 BBC News

Eric Clapton wanted to save the store so he could shop there
Eric Clapton has shed his rock star image to step in and save an historic gentleman's outfitters from closure.
Clapton, 59, bought a 50% share in Cordings, which has been in Piccadilly, central London, since 1839, after it got into financial difficulties.

The guitarist said he has been fond of the shop since a window display caught his eye when he was 16, and has been a regular shopper for the past two years.

The shop stocks apparel for countryside sports and pursuits.

One of the changes to be introduced since Clapton bought the share is the shop's first women's collection.


Noll was thinking what could be done to save the shop and thought `I will go and talk to my best client'

Spokeswoman for Cordings
Clapton said: "I am a big fan of English traditional tailoring and have always been intrigued by the balance between functionality and style in the development of men's fashion.

"I wanted to help preserve Cordings for myself so I could continue to shop there."

A spokeswoman for Cordings said Noll Uloth approached Mr Clapton for help soon after he started working at the shop.

"Noll was thinking what could be done to save the shop and thought `I will go and talk to my best client"', said Melanie Cable-Alexander, spokeswoman for Cordings.

"He contacted Eric and within five minutes he had a reply saying `I can't let this happen"'.

Cordings was the originator of the Covert coat and the Tattersall shirt and made riding boots for the Queen Mother, the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Simpson.

Ginetta previews G55

The Ginetta GT Supercup is set to replace the Ginetta G50 Cup as a BTCC support series in 2011.



Both the existing G50 - which is powered by a 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS) 3.5 litre Ford engine - and the new G55 will be eligible to compete in the Supercup, but they’ll run in separate classes.

Ginetta will be unveiling the G55 at January’s Autosport International exhibition in Birmingham. The main differences compared to the G50 are a 370 bhp (275 kW / 375 PS) 3.7 litre Ford engine, new exhaust system, upgraded brakes and new bodywork that promises improved aerodynamics.



Interested race teams will have to part with £75,000 to buy a G55, while existing G50 owners can have their cars converted to G55 specification for £25,000. Entry fees for the 2011 Ginetta GT Supercup have been confirmed as £9,750 (plus VAT) for the G50, or £11,750 (plus VAT) for the G55.



At the moment it seems doubtful whether there’ll be a road-going version of the Ginetta G55. Although the company has previously shown the street legal G50 R and all-electric G50 EV, its road car efforts now appear focussed on the Ginetta F400. That model is basically a rebadged Farbio GTS, and follows Ginetta’s acquisition of Farbio Sports Cars earlier this year.

James Sherwood

ARCHIVE

In Autumn 2007, Gieves & Hawkes MD Mark Henderson asked James Sherwood to assist Mr Robert Gieve - fourth and last generation in the family firm - to curate an Archive Room at No 1 Savile Row for the great bespoke tailoring house. Founded in 1785 and 1771, Gieves & Hawkes had impeccable pedigrees as naval and military tailors respectively beginning with iconic customers Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington. Gieves & Hawkes has held the Royal Warrant for every successive monarch from George III in 1809 to the present Queen. It was Mr Robert's life's work to rebuild the Gieves archive that had been decimated first by a direct hit during the Blitz in 1940 and then by an IRA bomb in 1975. Mr Robert's tragic death in November left Sherwood with the task of preparing the Archive Room for public display. It was only after Mr Robert's death that it became clear how many secrets still lay in the vaults underneath No 1; not least the history of Hawkes & Co. Mr Gieve had understandably given precedence to his family and the Royal family. With the keys to the vault underneath No 1, a warehouse full of long neglected uniforms and a war chest to acquire significant antique pieces at auction, Sherwood began piecing the histories of these remarkable firms and their illustrious customers back together. The Archive Room officially opened in May 2008.



The Grand Staircase at No 1 Savile Row, the 'wall of fame', displaying 75 portraits of the companies' famous and infamous customers.Wall of fame portraits including Prince Aly Khan, Sir Michael Caine, President Clinton and David Beckham.



A 1925 Gieves Ltd Aviator's helmet similar to those later worn for the 1933 first flight over Everest.



A panorama of the Gieves & Hawkes Archive Room with the deeds to No 1 Savile Row dating from 1735 displayed in the central glass table.



>HRH Prince of Wales and Lady Camilla visit the archive.



A collection of books published for the Royal Navy by Gieves' own publishing house founded in 1916.



very early Gieves Ltd RAF tunic dated within ten years of the service being founded by HM King George V in 1918.



RAF Director of Music Ceremonial Busby with Ostrich Plume



Hawkes & Co ledgers (some dating back to 1840) with a bundle of complete company accounts dated 1880-1917 in the foreground



A detail of a c.1900 Simpson & Co livery made for the Earl of Dudley's London mansion.



Gieves Ltd 1890 Rear Admiral's Full Dress Tunic and Cocked Hat.



A collection of Royal Naval shoulder plates, belt buckles and buttons found in the vaults at No 1 Savile Row in a tin chest inscribed J B & Co Ltd. Barker was a subsidiary company owned by Gieves Ltd. Swan feather helmet and greatcoat of HM The Queen's Gentlemen-at-Arms tailored by Hawkes & Co and last worn at the funeral of HM King George V1 in 1952.

2011 Royal Enfield Fury

29 November 2010 Update:



Pricing for the Fury has been confirmed at £5,500 for the black version, or £5,895 for the blue or white paint finishes.



Available exclusively in the UK, sales are due to start early next year.

Royal Enfield is set to unveil its new Fury at the UK Motorcycle Live show, which takes place in Birmingham’s NEC from 27 November to 5 December 2010.

Based around the familiar fuel-injected 499 cc single-cylinder engine from the Bullet Classic, the Fury has been created to help the Royal Enfield brand appeal more to younger customers. To that end, it gets flat track racing inspired styling cues, including wider bars, a redesigned seat unit and twin silencers.

Pricing will be revealed at the NEC show.