Then I have said as much on my Instagram, I am saddened to hear that Charvet has been bought by Chanel. This is to my mind the most historically significant menswear brand in the world and one of those independents that wasn’t answering to shareholders, that hadn’t succumbed to globalisation and a store in every major city. My pattern still sits there and I fondly recall when sitting with Jean-Claude in his office overlooking the Place Vendome and the Ritz Carlton opposite his fine honey timber walls, statues of jaguars, his coffee table and his book of designs here his hand had sketched meticulous designs. And I recall the visit to his workroom on the 6th floor, the wall of whites in the shirting department and the general mist in my eyes when I glimpsed his window displays each time.

I think it was Warren Buffet who said to praise individually and to admonish categorically, so today I want to praise the timeless elegance of Fabio Attanasio in Florence with such lovely proportions in his dinner jacket and bow tie and say what a privilege it is that both men like Fabio wear our products and how much as a business owner it still excites me to see where our bow ties might pop up next. And categorically, concurrently, I wish to admonish all those that refuse to make the effort with their black tie ensembles.