I recently had occasion to visit the eastern end of London’s Square Mile and found myself walking through Artillery Passage, one of the historic old alleys near Spitalfields.  Artillery Passage is becoming a street of some style, with both Salts English Tailoring and Alexander Boyd Bespoke shirts at the eastern end, not to mention John Marengo suitmakers one street South. 

Salts were new to me so I was curious.  I entered the shop and was lucky enough to get some time with Richard Wainwright, one of the two master tailors who head up Salts.  

Salts make English cut made-to-measure suits.  Richard is a master tailor, trained in Savile Row with a pedigree spanning some of London’s best bespoke tailors.   He and his team can design and make a made-to-measure suit in a very swift five weeks.  

Richard showed me some of their suits and they specialise in a crisp, distinctive city suit.  That said, they are very versatile tailors and their designs span the spectrum of good tailoring, from English cut through to lighter, silkier Italian style suits.   Their suits are sharp, slim and very flattering.  They remind me quite a bit of the suits of Tom Sweeny, the Mayfair tailor who is getting lots of praise at the moment.

What is striking about Salts is their in-depth understanding of what a city suit needs to do.  They know how to build a suit for those mad jobs where you fly out of London to a foreign city, work all day and then go to dinner with clients in the evening, and the suit has to look good through all of it.  

Richard Wainwright, Master Tailor 

With this type of wear in mind, Richard showed me how he can make a suit with a heavier internal canvas, using light but strong English wool worsteds, to be both stylish and hardwearing.  The suit is elegant and sharp but has the guts to take a lot of punishment and hold its shape. 

These gentlemen are can-do tailors, they are plain speaking and professional and they understand the needs of City businessmen.  They are smart too.  Their suits are made up by master tailors in Poland, in a traditional tailoring factory that Salts have sole use of.   This ensures excellent cutting and finishing and very keen prices.    

Salts’ handmade ties 

Salts make a range of bespoke gentlemen’s clothing from tuxedos to summer jackets, as well as ties, shirts and shoes.  For a craftsman tailors’ they have an extremely large range of cloths and fabrics to choose from, including some very distinctive weaves that are proprietary to their company.   For around £1,200 they will make you one of their superb hand-made suits.  You can either visit their shop or, if you work in the Square Mile, arrange for their visiting tailor to come to your office. 

If you work in the City and you are in the market for a suit, go visit these gentlemen.  They speak our language.   

Salts         10 Artillery Passage, London E1 7LJ

Tel:             44 (0)20 7377 9604

Website:     www.saltsmill.com