« tailors on the telly... | Main | american visits, march-april 2008 »
February 12, 2008
part two...
(Valentine & Nutter, two greats)
The second episode of “Savile Row” was aired on the BBC last night. I wish that’s all there was to it. Sadly, I can’t write today and say I’m pleased how the series has at last improved and got the feel of the Row and, more importantly the people who are involved. Instead of inciting viewers to dash and spend their hard-earned cash on the Row, they’re more likely to stand at the end of the Row and gaze in puzzlement at a historical shipwreck, whose crew prefer to point fingers at those who’ve jumped ship.
I never thought I’d see the day that a programme about the business I’ve been involved with all my life could possibly make me cringe so much. It was all very sad and tragic. I wish I could at least say there was humour in the tragedy, but the only people laughing are the people who’d prefer to see the back of the tailors on Savile Row for good. In all fairness to everyone involved in this series, I do feel that after a year of filming the BBC could have edited the programme more fairly, rather than to choose to make a complete parody of the Row and show its occupants to be nearing the end of an epoch and the insecurity that goes with.
I don’t want to go over the same ground as earlier. What I will say is that it appears the Savile Row Association is doing a better job than all the high rents, bad exchange rates and global fashion brands could ever do at eating away at the core of what makes Savile Row a wonderful and unique place. Its times like this I thank God my little company is not of “serious note” (you have to watch the show to understand that one).
Here’s the link to watch on line. I promise there’s a more positive aura around there in reality.
Posted by tom at February 12, 2008 1:08 PM