Hawes & Curtis shop review

Where is it?

The Trafford Centre

Manchester

M17 8AA

www.hawesandcurtis.com

History:

Bespoke formal brand Hawes & Curtis was established in 1913 by Ralph Hawes and Freddie Curtis, who both designed shirts for Royalty and celebrities alike, creating a quality tailored brand name associated with fine fabrics, innovative designs and distinguished detail.

Now in 2011, projects like MediaCity are pulling all manner of things London up to the capital of the North and Hawes & Curtis are bringing their stylish designs with them.

The Trafford Centre store, located on the upper mall close to Selfridges, is the first in the chain to open in the North West of England and brand manager Teddy Smith says “people in Manchester have a great eye for detail and design’” – a belief which prompted the stores opening in November 2010.

What do they sell?

Shirts. Lots and lots of them. The range in impressive. Walk into the store and you are greeted with a wall of options from Windsor Classics to more fashionable slim-fit designs.

The stock changes frequently, every 6-8 weeks, and when customer response highlights a design or style that’s not currently stocked, it can be manufactured and available in stores within weeks.

It’s common to see customers come in and spend thousands, buying a full range of shirts for fear they might well be out or stock in two months time, or the limited edition items will no longer be available.

Be aware that some of the designs are guilty of making you look like an estate agent, and the pinks and pastels in the summer range are not usually my taste, but with such a wide range it’s difficult not to find something you like here. The Brandon Slim-Fit in blue with buttoned cuffs that I took a closer look at was elegant yet casual, and would look wonderful either under a suit or with jeans and sunglasses at the weekend.

Who shops there?

The store caters for both men and women, and staff say that it’s an even split in terms of popularity. The ranges are kept apart in simple fashion. The west wall is for men, the east wall is for women, and if you need a tie or cufflinks then have a float around the middle. Sizes range from the very small (14” collar/size 6) up to the larger sizes (19” collar/ size 22). Custom can therefore range from businessmen and women to younger more casual dressers looking to spend a little more on that tailored look.

Why go there?

For quality and customer service. Prices start at £79, which isn’t cheap, but the brand is committed to always running a promotion. At the moment, you can walk away with three shirts for £89, and with every size and fit available in store to try first, you’ll struggle to be disappointed with three shirts of this quality for under thirty quid each – just don’t go for a pink and lemon pin-stripe, please.

Future:

Hawes & Curtis see this store as their flagship for the North West, and it’s doing well, with repeat purchases commonplace. But this is very much the test run for a brand that is well established in London, but little known in the North.

Verdict:

With shirts it really is all about how they fit, so it’s easy to see why people return to this store time and time again. And when there’s new stock available every time, it’s even better. No matter how you wear your shirts, there is something for you here, and if there isn’t then let them know, and chances are there will be next time you drop by.

Ultimately it’s the promotions that will keep this place alive, but if they continue to run them like they promise to do so, then for quality shirts this is a better option than the high street by arms length.