LONDON – Taj Phull, managing director of Huntsman, has been named the new chair of the Savile Row Bespoke Association, succeeding Mark Henderson, former chairman and chief executive officer at Gieves & Hawkes.

At 41, Phull is the youngest person to take on the role, which will see him guide the association’s efforts to “protect, promote and preserve” the art of bespoke tailoring on Savile Row.

“This role gives me the opportunity to explore opening different doors to expand Savile Row’s incredible apprenticeship courses and to further grow the global footprint of the world of bespoke tailoring that Savile Row exports to the world,” Phull said.

Since being promoted from head of retail to managing director in November 2020, Phull has led 177-year-old Huntsman through expansion into ready-to-wear alongside its bespoke business.

He is also regarded as an advocate for the future of Savile Row. He has been pushing the idea that the street can evolve with changing lifestyles and tastes while keeping the core codes of bespoke intact and relevant for a new generation of clients.

“For me it’s very exciting to see another generation taking up the baton,” said Henderson, who is also the founding director of the Savile Row Bespoke Association.

“I have great respect for what Phull is doing with Huntsman and the collective determination of the SRBA members to ensure that true bespoke tailoring continues to thrive on this special street,” he added.

Jenny Casebourne, property director at The Pollen Estate, owner of much of Savile Row, said Phull brings “a wealth of experience and energy to the role, alongside a deep respect for the traditions that have made Savile Row the global home of bespoke tailoring for centuries.”

The Savile Row Bespoke Association was established in 2004 by five of Savile Row’s tailors: Anderson & Sheppard, Dege & Skinner, Gieves & Hawkes, H. Huntsman & Sons and Henry Poole & Co. It has since grown to house 22 members.