Fung Group acquires Savile Row's Kilgour

Hong Kong-based Fung Capital, the private investment company run by the Li & Fung owners, has announced the acquisition of Savile Row tailoring house Kilgour from JMH Lifestyle. Financial details of the deal remain private. Kilgour will

join the recently founded Savile Row Brands portfolio of brands, owned by Fung Group and headed by CEO Tony Yusuf, as reports broke earlier this week. Founded in 1882, the tailoring firm was acquired in 2008 by JMH Lifestyle, owner of another Savile Row brand, Bernard Weatherill.

In an interview with ‘WWD’, CEO Tony Yusuf explained that Savile Row Brands goal is the acquisition of Savile Row Savile street small or understated brands - up to a minimum portfolio of five brands -, and help them become the world's "contemporary" custom clothing brand.

Yusuf said that Savile Row Brands branded retail range will be limited to Savile Row and will not seek global retail expansion. Additionally, these brands will be stocked at high-end department stores such as Harvey Nichols, Lane Crawford, Isetan, Mr Porter and Bloomingdale’s.

Kilgour changes hands

Kilgour was previously in the hands of JMH Lifestyle, which acquired the brand in 2008 to complement their expanding portfolio of luxury brands. Five years later, Fung Capital has purchased the centenary tailor from the Dubai-based group in a private transaction.

This is not the first shopping spree of Fung Capital in the high-end fashion market in Europe, as the Asian investment group bought British fashion Queen's favourite fashion brand Hardy Amies out of bankruptcy in 2008. The label will also open a new shop on Savile Row in June under design director Mehmet Ali, ‘Vogue’ advanced.

In the same vein, Kilgour's new management will be well received in Savile Row, where other tailors previously bought by Trinity, part of the Fung Group. It's the case of Gieves & Hawkes and Kent & Curwen.

In Europe, Fung Capital also owns brands such as Sonia Rykiel, Robert Clergerie and Delvaux.