The bespoke tailors and shoe makers detest the forums (they think most of the posters are full of poo), and various retailers do not respect the igents either. That's the feedback l have been given.

The big companies have huge marketing and PR budgets and could not give a damn about the iGent market. They reach their target markets by advertising in magazines, dressing celebrities and sponsoring sporting events.

The tailoring houses and small firms have different approaches. Alden signed up cutters and senior staff from Savile Row houses for his Certified Artisans Programme. Small tailoring firms like English Cut and Steed have used the London Lounge, as well as their blogs, to find new clients.

There are several bigger firms that seem to target the iGent market - e.g. Rubinacci and The Armoury which owns Drake's. Liverano & Liverano have taken several months worth of orders on just a few visits to London that were organised by the Armoury. Then there are the firms who advertise on Ask Andy and blogs like A Suitable Wardrobe.

There is a general dislike of the esteemed fora and the blogs in the schmutter trade by professionals. It's one of the things about my previous capers here that endear me to them.  If anything they'd be even happier with me if I'd behaved worse.   How hard it is to please people. 

Sadly, Drake's have all but abandoned the traditional English lined tie. Nearly all their current ties are unlined in the Neapolitan style - clearly influenced by the iGents on the fora. If I wanted a Neapolitan tie, I'd go to Marinella's London store just off Bond Street. Turnbull & Asser and Budd (madders) now get my tie business.

Sure.

And I am speaking of the mind that even most of the old couture houses are sell outs and not true luxury anymore. As I said, there are a small single digit number I can think of. If they are making purses, they are not a true luxury brand. Hermes is the only one who has managed to come even close to straddling that line, and that' just because of their high end leather monopoly.

Things like Prada and LV are as faux as faux gets these days.