Drake's
Corporate brand
UnclaimedDrake's is a British luxury menswear haberdasher best known for handmade ties, pocket squares, scarves, and shirting.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
Drake's is a British menswear haberdashery and clothing brand founded in London in 1977 by Michael Drake, Jeremy Hull, and Isabel Dickson, all of whom had previously worked for the British clothing company Aquascutum. The business began with a relatively focused range of men's scarves before expanding into the accessories for which it became particularly recognized: handmade ties, pocket squares, and other elements of classic menswear. The brand's identity is rooted in traditional British craftsmanship, but its products have generally been presented with a relaxed and individual approach rather than as rigid formalwear. Its manufacturing activity has included production in East London, while its shirting operations have been associated with a factory in Chard, Somerset. Drake's has emphasized handwork, distinctive fabrics, carefully developed patterns, and continuity with established British techniques. Ties remain a central product category, supported by scarves, pocket squares, shirts, jackets, knitwear, and other accessories and garments associated with contemporary classic menswear. A major change in ownership and creative direction occurred in 2010, when founder Michael Drake retired. The brand was acquired and operated by Michael Hill, who had been Drake's understudy and lead designer, together with Mark Cho, co-founder of the Hong Kong menswear retailer The Armoury. Under Hill and Cho, Drake's retained its emphasis on handmade accessories while broadening its retail, shirting, and international presence. Drake's opened a dedicated shop at 3 Clifford Street in London on 20 May 2011. The location sits between Savile Row and Bond Street and was designed as a setting consistent with the brand's craft-oriented, traditional character. In April 2013, the company moved its tie factory to 3 Haberdasher Street in London, bringing manufacturing, design, showroom, warehousing, head-office functions, and a factory shop together in one site. In July of the same year, Drake's acquired the Rayner and Sturges shirt factory in Chard, Somerset. The acquisition added a workforce of approximately 35 people and enabled the production of handmade, bespoke, and ready-to-wear shirts. The Somerset acquisition also gave Drake's control of the historic Cleeve shirting name, which Michael Hill subsequently relaunched. A Cleeve ready-to-wear capsule was introduced through the Clifford Street store and the brand's online channel. This strengthened Drake's position beyond accessories and supported its development as a broader menswear label. Drake's has built visibility through collaborations with brands, designers, artists, and specialist makers. Reported collaborators include Fred Perry, artist Adam Dant, Nackymade Glasses, J.Crew, Aimé Leon Dore, Private White V.C., and the Royal College of Art. These projects have connected the brand's traditional English craft language with contemporary fashion, streetwear, design, and cultural audiences. The company has maintained a physical retail presence in London and expanded internationally. In 2022 it opened a store on Canal Street in New York City. Its flagship at 9 Savile Row has been recognized in menswear coverage as one of the world's notable specialist clothing stores. Drake's has also received export and industry recognition, including the Queen's Award for Export and the UK Fashion Export Gold Award. The brand remains an independent, privately held British menswear business centered on accessories, shirting, artisanal production, and a modern interpretation of classic tailoring culture.
History
Drake's was established in London in 1977 by Michael Drake, Jeremy Hull, and Isabel Dickson, three former Aquascutum employees. Its initial range consisted of men's scarves. The company later developed a reputation for handmade ties and pocket squares, which became central to its identity as a specialist British haberdasher. The business changed hands in 2010 when Michael Drake retired. Michael Hill, who had worked as Drake's understudy and lead designer, joined with Mark Cho, co-founder of The Armoury in Hong Kong, to acquire and operate the brand. Their stewardship preserved Drake's focus on artisanal accessories while extending its product and retail activities. On 20 May 2011, Drake's opened a store at 3 Clifford Street in London, in the area between Savile Row and Bond Street. The shop occupied a former art and antiques gallery and used materials and furnishings intended to reflect the company's traditional craft character, including Harris Tweed seating, timber flooring, and cabinetry associated with the Natural History Museum. In April 2013, Drake's moved its tie production to 3 Haberdasher Street in London. The site combined the factory with the design studio, showroom, warehouse, head office, and factory shop, creating a consolidated operating base. In July 2013 the company acquired the Rayner and Sturges shirt factory in Chard, Somerset. The transaction brought an existing workforce of about 35 people into the business and supported handmade, bespoke, and ready-to-wear shirt production. Through the Somerset operation, Drake's also inherited the Cleeve shirting brand. Michael Hill relaunched Cleeve and introduced a ready-to-wear capsule collection through the Clifford Street store and the company's online channel. This marked a significant broadening of Drake's offering from accessories into a more complete menswear and shirting proposition. The brand has pursued collaborations with a varied group of partners, including Fred Perry, Adam Dant, Nackymade Glasses, J.Crew, Aimé Leon Dore, Private White V.C., and the Royal College of Art. These partnerships have allowed Drake's to apply its fabric, color, and craft vocabulary to projects outside its core seasonal collections. Drake's expanded beyond London with a New York City store on Canal Street in 2022. Its later flagship presence at 9 Savile Row has reinforced its association with London's specialist tailoring district. The company has received recognition including the Queen's Award for Export and the UK Fashion Export Gold Award. It remains an active private British menswear brand known especially for handmade ties, pocket squares, scarves, and shirting.
- 2022
New York City retail expansion
[1]Drake's opens a store on Canal Street in New York City.
- 2013
Tie factory moves to Haberdasher Street
[1]The company consolidates production, design, showroom, warehousing, office, and factory-shop functions at 3 Haberdasher Street.
- 2013
Rayner and Sturges acquisition
[1]Drake's acquires the Somerset shirt factory and expands into handmade, bespoke, and ready-to-wear shirting.
- 2011
First dedicated Clifford Street shop
[1]Drake's opens a retail location at 3 Clifford Street in London's West End.
- 2010
New ownership after Michael Drake's retirement
[1]Michael Hill and Mark Cho acquire and take over the brand following Michael Drake's retirement.
- 1977
Drake's is founded in London
[1]Michael Drake, Jeremy Hull, and Isabel Dickson establish the menswear business after working at Aquascutum.
Products and positioning
British luxury menswear with a strong emphasis on handmade accessories, traditional craftsmanship, expressive fabrics, and relaxed classic style.
Men's accessories
Handmade ties
Handmade ties are Drake's signature category and one of the main products associated with its reputation. The brand's ties express its traditional British craft orientation through fabric selection, construction, pattern, and color. They sit at the center of the company's identity as a specialist haberdasher while also supporting its broader approach to relaxed, expressive classic menswear.
Men's accessories
Pocket squares
Pocket squares formed part of the accessory range that helped establish Drake's reputation. They complement the company's ties and tailoring-related products and reflect its interest in distinctive fabrics, color, and pattern. The category is designed for classic menswear customers seeking detailed, less formal styling rather than uniform business dress.
Men's accessories · 1977
Scarves
Scarves were the original product category when Drake's was founded in 1977. Although the company later became more strongly identified with ties and pocket squares, scarves remain part of the brand's accessory heritage and its broader offering of fabric-led pieces for men's wardrobes.
Men's clothing · 2013
Drake's shirting
Drake's produces handmade, bespoke, and ready-to-wear shirts through its connection with the former Rayner and Sturges factory in Chard, Somerset. The shirting operation broadened the brand beyond accessories while retaining an emphasis on British production and traditional workmanship.
Men's clothing · 2013
Cleeve shirting
Cleeve is a historic shirting name inherited through Drake's acquisition of Rayner and Sturges. Michael Hill relaunched the label and introduced a ready-to-wear capsule through Drake's London store and online business, giving the company an additional platform for its shirt-making expertise.
Marketing campaigns
- Collaborative product program
United Kingdom · United States · International markets
Drake's has worked with Fred Perry, Adam Dant, Nackymade Glasses, J.Crew, Aimé Leon Dore, Private White V.C., and the Royal College of Art. The collaborations connect the brand's British craft and haberdashery traditions with fashion, art, eyewear, collegiate, and contemporary design audiences.
Outcome. The collaborations broadened the brand's cultural reach and demonstrated that its traditional accessories and menswear could be adapted to different partner identities.
Brand decisions
2022
International retail expansion into New YorkStrategyBackground
The company expanded its physical retail presence beyond the United Kingdom.
Action taken
Drake's opened a store on Canal Street in New York City.
Aftermath
The opening gave the British brand a permanent retail presence in a major United States menswear market.
2013
Integration of London operationsStrategyBackground
Drake's sought to bring its key operating functions closer together as the business developed.
Action taken
The tie factory moved to 3 Haberdasher Street, alongside the design studio, showroom, warehouse, head office, and factory shop.
Aftermath
The move created a consolidated London base for manufacturing and brand operations.
2013
Expansion into shirt manufacturingM&ABackground
Drake's had established a strong reputation in accessories and sought to deepen its presence in shirting.
Action taken
The company acquired the Rayner and Sturges factory in Chard, Somerset, including its workforce and the Cleeve shirting name.
Aftermath
Drake's gained handmade, bespoke, and ready-to-wear shirt capabilities and relaunched Cleeve as a ready-to-wear shirting label.
2010
Ownership transition following founder retirementM&ABackground
Michael Drake retired after establishing and developing the company for more than three decades.
Action taken
Michael Hill and Mark Cho acquired and took over Drake's.
Aftermath
The new ownership maintained the brand's handmade-accessories identity while supporting later retail and shirting expansion.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/drakes · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled