{"id":10822,"date":"2016-05-31T17:20:13","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T16:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a-gentlemans-row.com\/?p=10822"},"modified":"2023-05-15T15:19:10","modified_gmt":"2023-05-15T14:19:10","slug":"agr-in-conversation-with-richard-harvie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/a-gentlemans-row.com\/agr-in-conversation-with-richard-harvie\/","title":{"rendered":"AGR In Conversation With Richard Harvie"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Here at A Gentleman's Row we were lucky enough to recently sit down with Richard Harvie, director and a third generation member of the bespoke shirt makers, Harvie & Hudson of Jermyn Street, London. No mass production here. Using the finest fabrics, Harvie & Hudson shirts are expertly handcrafted in small batches to deliver a sense of accessible exclusivity to the modern man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you could start by giving the AGR readers a brief history of the brand?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The company was founded by my grandfather, Thomas Harvie and his friend George Hudson who had both worked for the Jermyn Street Shirtmakers. The Great Depression , then the onset of the Second World War had meant their dreams of starting their own shirt making business together had to wait till post-war. In 1949 they had scraped together enough money to open a shop on Duke Street. Due in part largely to the low rent rates kindly given to them by the infamous character in London at the time, 'The Duchess of Duke Street'. The friends were eager to be on Jermyn Street and among fellow professionals, but it wasn't until the 1960\u2019s, that number 77 Jermyn Street became available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company now with my father and Derek Hudson on board set about moving into their new home. Not too long after, a flagship retail premise was taken on in the late 60's at number 97 with the intention of closing the aforementioned number 77. Due to the success in trading this ceased to happen. Our latest flagship store refit though has enabled us to maximise space and soon move all trading under one roof at number 96\/97 Jermyn Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When did you join the company?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
I joined in the mid-80\u2019s and started off working in the stockroom and building my knowledge and expertise from the bottom up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Was there ever a chance you wouldn\u2019t join the family business?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Yes. I knew my calling in life was retail, you could say it was in my DNA. But I wanted to enter the retail space with a larger outfit. My father was never pushy about joining the family business, so I pursued a management course with Harrods, working there for some time. It was only half way through a latter business degree I decided I\u2019d be stupid not give Harvie & Hudson a try. I gave myself a target of two years, and within two months I knew this was the place for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you feel pressure as a third generation member of this company?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n