Sharp suits are the order of the day at this ‘dark and decadent’ outlet

Gresham Blake is a tailor with a bit of edge about him…

Gresham Blake is a tailor with a bit of edge about him. Now, underlining that point, he has opened a new flagship store in that most hip of hangouts, London’s Shoreditch. Naturally, it’s a perfect fit; Commercial Street seems made to measure for the ever-so-slightly naughty clothier from Brighton. His bespoke, made-to-measure and ready-to-wear clothing for men and women has adorned the arty and the party crowd, including Nick Cave, Tracey Emin, Plan B, The Kooks, Paul McCartney, Richard E Grant, Christian Slater and Ray Winstone (who co-hosted the launch party last night). 

But that’s not to say Blake can’t deliver a more sober suit. He uses fine British-milled materials combined with quality tailoring that can look as classic as you like for City wear; try his Traditional Bespoke service with age-old methods such as a loose canvas, hand-sewn linings and handmade buttonholes, and which of course need several fittings (from £1,100 for a two-piece men’s suit; women’s from £865).

The latest store, which replaces Blake’s showroom in South Molton Street, London, and joins his popular boutique in Brighton, promises to offer a more “dark and decadent” experience, with a 19th-century maximalist twist. At ground-floor level there’s a Victorian mosaic-tiled floor, exposed brickwork and dark-grey walls, circular Victorian sinks upcycled into display units for ties and accessories, plus gold sycamore units and a glass floor that overlooks the fitting room below – with a guitar, turntable, fashion and art books and photographs of some of Blake’s most famous clients on the wall, all looking pin sharp.

Fact Box:

Gresham Blake Shoreditch, 143 Commercial Street, London E1 (020-7375 0365; www.greshamblake.com).