the chairman, on the classics
for more than seven decades, dugdale's royal classic and english classic collections have remained steadfast in their character and quality. chairman robert charnock reflects on the skill, conviction and quiet dedication required to preserve the integrity of a truly enduring cloth.
As autumn arrives, I’m reminded of something a renowned Savile Row tailor said about our longstanding Royal Classic and English Classics collections:
“What I love about these cloths is that they have never been compromised, nor have they ever lost their integrity.”
It was an uplifting observation. These cloths may appear straightforward, but behind their enduring character lies painstaking human effort: the care required to maintain continuity, year after year.
My grandfather, a highly respected cloth maker, always told me: “If you love wool, it will love you back in the cloth you make.” That belief still guides us.
As I explained to the tailor, we remain closely involved at every stage, from wool to finished cloth. We give each process the time and attention it requires, preserving the wool’s natural characteristics and the cloth’s performance, rather than allowing the pursuit of speed or passing trends to dictate its character.
For more than 70 years, these collections have remained in constant circulation, earning their place through the confidence of those who cut, sew and wear them.
Autumn and winter are their seasons. Royal Classic and English Classic: quietly spoken, yet grand in stature.
English Classics Navy Twill.
The ‘Royal Classic’ bunch.
royal classic
Royal Classic has long been one of the cornerstones of our offering. A collection of traditional formal suitings, it brings together a considered selection of cloths whose appeal lies not in novelty, but in their enduring relevance. These are the familiar patterns and understated colours that have formed the foundation of fine tailoring for generations.
At 12oz (340g), woven from 100% wool here in Huddersfield, Royal Classic has a reassuring substance and handle. Our signature compact finish is central to its character, giving the cloth its clean drape, resilience and dependable performance on the cutting table and in the finished garment.
It is a collection that demonstrates something I have always believed: that a truly good cloth needn't demand attention. Its qualities become apparent in the hands of the tailor, and increasingly so through years of wear.
english classics
English Classics has its origins in the 1950s, a period when the well-dressed professional was a familiar sight on the streets of Britain's towns and cities. Bankers, merchants and businessmen relied upon their tailors for suits that would stand up to the demands of daily wear, and the substantial woollen cloths of the period were made with precisely this purpose in mind.
At 14oz (400g), English Classics retains much of the character of those original cloths. Woven with a full construction and given a deliberately dry, crisp finish, these are suitings with a distinctive handle and reassuring substance. Their traditional patterns have changed little over the decades, and for good reason. They remain as relevant to the tailor's craft today as they were when the collection was first introduced.
There is a tendency to associate progress with change, but I believe there is equal merit in knowing what ought to be preserved. English Classics is a fine example of that philosophy: a collection whose continued relevance owes much to the care taken in maintaining its original character.
Words by Robert Charnock, Chairman of Dugdale Bros. & Co.
Photography by Arran Cross.
