"Threads of Elegance" Conservation Workshop

Westminster Archives invites you to participate in a unique Behind the Scenes experience involving a tour, an introduction to the history of paper, handling archival materials, and hands-on dry cleaning of the Beale & Inman collection. Your involvement will centre on textile-themed activities designed to promote cultural exchange and creativity, thereby bringing to life the rich sartorial heritage of the‘Threads of Elegance: Conserving the Legacy of Beale and Inman Tailors’ Project..

The project has been funded by St James’s Ward through Westminster City Council’s Ward Budget Programme, for the benefit of local residents.

More about the: ‘Threads of Elegance: Conserving the Legacy of Beale and Inman Tailors’ Project.

Westminster City Archives preserves the exceptional records of Beale and Inman (ca. 1828–1980), one of the West End’s most distinguished tailors, renowned for its craftsmanship and role in shaping men’s fashion during the golden age of bespoke tailoring. Founded in 1828 on New Bond Street by James Beale and later joined by Richard Inman, the firm catered to an elite clientele including European royalty such as Emperor Napoleon III and the King of the Netherlands, British royals like King Edward VII and King George V, and famous figures including Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, and Sir Paul McCartney. The archives include detailed sales ledgers, order books (some with fabric samples) from the 1940s to 1980, and pattern books from the 1930s to 1970s, reflecting both individual and institutional clients. A rare set of “New Names” books offers insight into client creditworthiness, often with strikingly frank assessments from other top London retailers, making this collection an invaluable resource for understanding luxury tailoring and social history.

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