Originally part of the Burlington Estate in 1695, it was given its name for Lord Burlington's wife, Lady Dorothy Savile. At first, the Row was home to military officers and their wives but, by 1740, expert tailors set up shop in and around Savile Row on Cork Street, St. James Street, and Jermyn Street and serviced the clothing needs of English gentlemen. Beau Brummel (1778-1840), the epitome of the well-dressed man, patronized these shops and thus made English bespoke tailoring famous. The area is mostly known as the center for men's tailoring, however, women have also been accommodated. Tailors on Savile Row include Gieves and Hawkes (No. 1), Kilgor (No. 8), Jasper Littman (No. 9), Dege & Skinner (No. 10), Huntsman (No. 11), Darren Beamon (No. 12), Henry Poole & Co. (No.15), Maurice Sedwell (No. 19), Welsh & Jeffries (No. 20), Thomas Mahon (No. 20), Stephen Hitchkock, Davies and Son (No. 38), and James & James (No. 38). Tailors that are just off Savile Row include Anderson & Shepherd (32 Old Burlington Street) and the oldest company, Ede and Ravenscroft (8 Burlington Gardens), established in 1689. Savile Row was also home to the Beatles' record company, Apple Corps. (No. 3), and the location of their famous "Rooftop Concert," their last live performance in 1969.
Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Francesca Sterlacci and Joanne Arbuckle.