Dunhill

Alfred. English house of men’s clothing and accessories. In 1893, Alfred Dunhill took over the family company, which manufactured trimmings for carriages, and expanded it to include saddles, harnesses, and other accessories. Then, with the spread of motorcars, he began to produce clothing for automobile drivers. In 1904, the firm created the first pocket watch and, three years after that, with the opening of a store on Jermyn Street, Dunhill established its name with its famous smoking pipes (quite celebrated is the anti-wind model) and refined tobacco blends. Also from this period was the birth of the first lighter, Unique. During the 1930s and 1940s, the range of accessories included wristwatches, cuff links, and tiepins for men, and gold cases for women. In the 1960s, Dunhill stores are found all over the world, from North America to Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia. And the products multiply: 1976 was the start of the biennial Collection of men’s clothing, to which were added eyeglasses, men’s perfume, jewellery, and leather goods. The house has three times won the Queen’s Award for industry. In the basement of the historic London store on Jermyn Street, renovated in 1997, is the Dunhill Museum, which is open to the public. It collects the most meaningful objects of a century of activity, and organizes theme exhibits. In December 1999, the first store in Italy was opened, on via Manzoni in Milan. The Dunhill brand belongs to the VendÂme Luxury Group. It has 180 points-of-sale in 26 countries.”