Huntsman opens a permanent second home
IN NEW YORK
Last week marked the start of a new chapter in Huntsman’s story, as we welcomed our American clientele to our new home in the Big Apple for the very first time
Huntsman is proud to announce that last week we enjoyed another historic moment in the house’s history. We now have a permanent second home in New York, a 2,030 square foot pied-à-terre dedicated entirely to fulfilling the needs of our American clients.
Housed in the same building as the previous appointment-only space at 130 W. 57th Street, this new apartment is three times bigger, which has allowed Huntsman to treat it as a proper ‘club’ for customers to enjoy, similar in scope to Savile Row. A refined escape from the chaos of the city that lies at its feet, the pied-à-terre offers clients old and new a haven from the relentless pace of the world outside. It’s a comfortable stopping point to relax in luxurious surroundings, catch-up with the Huntsman team, to place new orders or browse through cloth books in search of style advice, whisky in hand.
In keeping with Huntsman tradition, this new premises brings with it a rich history. The building was built at the turn of the twentieth century to offer combined studio and living accommodation to New York’s thriving community of artists, and for much of its life it’s been home to influential creatives and key figures from the city’s fine art scene. Most recently, the apartment was home to famed crooner, Tony Bennett, before it passed into Huntsman’s hands.
Naturally, in taking the space on it was important to Huntsman that we retained something of its past, while bringing new life to this storied building. Our Chairman Pierre Lagrange ensured personally that the interior design met Huntsman standards, as a ‘home away from home, bringing the essence of Savile Row to New York City,’ so a number of pieces in the apartment come directly from the Savile Row shop.
Alongside vintage Ado Chale tables and a Betty Joel walnut art deco desk (described as her ‘chef d’oeuvre’), there are two 1930s steamer trunks, made on Berkeley Street in London and originally used by Huntsman to transport clients’ clothes across the Atlantic via ocean liner. The space is now also home to an original Art Deco mahogany desk and a substantial Luke Irwin silk-and-wool Ikat rug, both originally handmade for Savile Row’s front-of-house.
Huntsman tweeds line the walls (one of which is hung with a Warhol portrait of Dick Banks, and another with an Anthony McCall drawing) and the room centres around a remarkable 24-foot bookshelf from a British castle, rescued by our Chairman a number of years ago. ‘I had always looked to reuse this extraordinary mahogany bookcase, but at 24 feet tall it had to be placed in storage,’ he explains. ‘Fortunately, the dimensions of the new pied-à-terre accommodate such a large piece and it really does make the room.’
Lampshades are covered in Huntsman’s house tweed, archive books containing orders from notable American clients are on permanent display and the 12 step staircase left over from a previous duplex development is the perfect place to display a number of original pieces from star Huntsman client, Gregory Peck’s own wardrobe. Speaking of which, to celebrate the opening of this new home-from-home, we hosted an intimate cocktail soirée with Gregory Peck’s son, Anthony Peck, last week – with his father’s remarkable clothes in pride of place.
Of course, this new space also plays host to Huntsman’s new team. Recently, we appointed veteran menswear executive, Ed Turco (formerly of Loro Piana), as US Director of Operations. Ed will ensure that the standards of service that Huntsman expects are met effortlessly for our clients in the States. Alongside Ed, one of our talented cutters, Ralph Fitzgerald, has relocated to New York City to take-on the mantle of full-time bespoke cutter for North America.
‘In adding cutting rooms to the fitting rooms opened in February 2016, with a Savile Row cutter in residence, our new setup provides an incomparable experience for our American clients,’ says Lagrange. ‘This is a private space, a sanctuary for our clients to receive undisturbed attention form our expert stylists and cutters.’ Indeed, Ralph will be the first point of call for customers to discuss their sartorial needs and is entirely at the disposal of the house’s American clients.
With floor-to-ceiling windows which flood with natural light, perfect for cutting, tailoring and for admiring our exclusive fabrics, this new space is an exciting step forward for Huntsman, and we hope that our American customers will come to find it as special a place as we do. Appointments can be made via email, usa@h-huntsman.co.uk or by telephone, 646-590-2595. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
