I met Michael Drake at an event at his factory late last year - thought he seemed quite pleased about something, now I know what! Good luck to him and the guys from the Armoury.
I did think the B&M shop was a departure for the company. Before they had seemed focused on making scarves and ties and sourcing a small range of complimentary accessories: I had been expecting the shop to be something like the ground floor at Charvet - just a room full of ties. Instead I was surprised to find a relatively low emphasis on ties, and instead a small selection of shirts, jackets and shoes - not things Drake's are known for and presumably just rebranded goods from other makers. It's also a small space physically - it struck me that it could look impressive lined with racks and racks of ties and scarves, like something from Gatsby's (or Vox's) wardrobe; but as it was I was distinctly underwhelmed.
Personally I want to buy shoes from shoe makers, shirts from shirt makers, and ties from tie makers. I hope they're not planning to turn Drakes into a general menswear retailer instead of a focused manufacturer.
Having said that I wish there was a shop like the Armoury in London - they should open it under their own name though, not Drake's.
I did think the B&M shop was a departure for the company. Before they had seemed focused on making scarves and ties and sourcing a small range of complimentary accessories: I had been expecting the shop to be something like the ground floor at Charvet - just a room full of ties. Instead I was surprised to find a relatively low emphasis on ties, and instead a small selection of shirts, jackets and shoes - not things Drake's are known for and presumably just rebranded goods from other makers. It's also a small space physically - it struck me that it could look impressive lined with racks and racks of ties and scarves, like something from Gatsby's (or Vox's) wardrobe; but as it was I was distinctly underwhelmed.
Personally I want to buy shoes from shoe makers, shirts from shirt makers, and ties from tie makers. I hope they're not planning to turn Drakes into a general menswear retailer instead of a focused manufacturer.
Having said that I wish there was a shop like the Armoury in London - they should open it under their own name though, not Drake's.
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