Blaqua - Modern English Tailoring

Blaqua shirt, spring/summer 2010

Blaqua shirt, spring/summer 2010

Blaqua's flagship menswear boutique is nestled in a small Georgian shop on Newburgh Street. When partners Debbie Jeffrey and Simon Green opened the shop in June 2009, they intended to grow their business slowly. Events have, however, dictated that demand for their modern English tailored menswear and accessories has far exceeded their own great expectations and they are already on course to develop the Blaqua brand internationally, launch an online shop and show at September's London Fashion Week.

The couple created Blaqua as a label which focuses on beautiful English-style menswear using the highest quality fabrics (English, Irish and Italian mainly) and finished to perfection. The printed shirt, with pronounced collars and wide cuffs, is the signature Blaqua garment. Offered in a range of colours (this season moss greens, deep blues and red dominate) and prints (red English rose has almost sold out, along with updated Blaqua versions of paisley). Customers are often tempted to buy a few at a time, not least because the prints are constantly updated and many will never be repeated once sold out. Along with a satisfying choice of shirts, the shop also sells accessories ranging from silk printed hankerchiefs, boistrious cufflinks, scarves and leather wallets with printed cotton linings.

"The clothes sell themselves", comments the uncompromisingly stylish Simon from behind the wooden counter. A short time in the shop is testimony to this - the quality of the garments and the decent prices mean that gentlemen of all ages are catered for. Brand ambassadors range form the indomitable Larry Love (performer and vocalist of the Soprano's theme tune) to Charlie, frontman of The Cesarians and singer/songwriter David McAlmont. Sustainability is also part of the brand's core philosophy (Debbie is one of pioneers of for producing fish-skin accessories) in the and they are continually staging charity events in Soho's St Barnabus House as part of the Quintessentially club nights.

Looking to the future, Blaqua is establishing a very high standard of tailored menswear that can compete with those more established names on the circuit. Dedicated capsule ranges as well as concessions in the better department stores, seem to be just around the corner. But if you can, head to 9 Newburgh Street for an unfiltered Blaqua experience. And if you see the most dapper-looking man behind the wooden counter, well that'll be Mr Blaqua aka Simon, a gentleman who is true to the best principles of English tailoring, from head-to-toe.

Words: Marian Buckley

Blaqua, 9 Newburgh Street, London W1. Telephone: 0207 434 3007. Prices start at £44 for a hankerchief, shirts range from £110-195 and a handmade bespoke suit costs from £1150.
blauqa.net