Bearing Gifts

Bearing GIFTS

The essential elements of gentlemanly living - from a silk tie and a pocket square to a distinguished cocktail recipe - have been distilled into this festive gift box, which Huntsman presents for Christmas 2016. The box – which is trimmed with Huntsman’s green Machir tweed and a maroon ribbon – contains a wealth of handsome accessories from the house’s collections. Among them are a 100% silk, square-ended tie, knit with a rugged, “crie de la soie” texture. There’s also a 100% silk pocket square, printed with a delicate line illustration of Huntsman’s Savile Row headquarters, courtesy of artist Liam Wales. In addition are the rather unique sterling silver collar stiffeners, with a textured, engine-turned pattern on one side, and the London Assay hallmark on the other. And the russet-coloured, deerskin leather wallet is a must-have too, fusing Huntsman’s timeless style with the latest in technological advances, as it’s lined with an anti-theft material, to prevent details being stolen from the contactless cards inside. As to the quirkier side of the box, among its treasures are the late Austrian architect Adolf Loos’s book, “Why a Man Should be Well-Dressed,” which originated as a series of essays published in the early 20th Century. And to enhance one’s drinks-mixing repertoire, London cocktail longue Experimental Cocktail Club has created a Huntsman cocktail, which is printed on a leather, tweed-backed coaster. The recipe blends 101 proof bourbon whisky, Chambord, and orange bitters, all served over ice, and takes inspiration from a cocktail originally devised by bar tender Hidetsugo Ueno of Tokyo’s Bar High Five. Meanwhile, tweed continues as a motif of Huntsman’s Christmas celebrations this year – a fitting theme, given that bespoke tweeds are one of Huntsman’s hallmarks. When sending out Christmas greetings this season, the house invited friends and family to design their own Huntsman tweed. Recipients can download one of four Huntsman tweed patterns from the Huntsman website, and then colour them as they wish, before uploading them to Instagram and tagging them #huntsmantweed2016, or emailing them to the house. After the closing date of January 31, 2017, Huntsman will shortlist 20 designs, determined by those with the most “likes.” Of these finalists, a winner will be chosen in February, by a panel comprised of discerning, stylish friends of the house. The winner’s bespoke tweed will then enter production, and they’ll win a bespoke jacket crafted from the fabric – the last word in luxurious personalisation. Don't miss out on the perfect present this Christmas for any discerning Gentleman...