Text: Jiří Král Photo: Ilja Hubálek / brand archive
Very few brands carry as strong a name in England as Thomas Mason. It embodies the cardinal virtues of British fashion: the finest materials, an eye for detail, and an emphasis on tradition. Since the Victorian era, Thomas Mason fabrics have been a symbol of masculine elegance, and shirts made from them are worn even by members of the Royal Family.
Sir Thomas Mason: the founding father of modern weaving
The first ships carrying cotton reached English shores from India as early as 1792. At the time, however, nobody possessed the know-how required to work with the fibres. Fabric production was therefore slow and expensive.
The brand's story begins in 1796, at the height of the Industrial Revolution, when Thomas Mason recruited the finest weaving masters of his day and combined their expertise with the power of modern steam machinery.
This enabled him to create higher-quality fabrics and more interesting patterns than his contemporary competitors dared to attempt. The leading tailoring houses of London's West End, who dressed the British aristocracy and the wealthiest classes, took notice almost at once.
Flourishing during the Victorian era
As the British Empire expanded in the early 19th century, so too did the influence of Thomas Mason. For many of the leading tailoring houses on Jermyn Street and Savile Row, Thomas Mason became the exclusive supplier of fabrics, paving the way for the brand's global reach.
Throughout the Victorian era, Thomas Mason became a byword for elegant menswear and the gentlemanly ideal.
A brand worn by kings and soldiers alike
With the outbreak of the First World War, the British Army sought new fabrics to produce better and more durable uniforms. In response, Thomas Mason developed the world's first waterproof and flame-retardant cotton cloth. Helicopter pilots wore specially designed waterproof suits that protected them from cold and drowning should they fall into the sea.
After the war, Thomas Mason returned once again to the realm of elegance. In 1936, it became the exclusive fabric supplier to Turnbull & Asser, the long-standing shirtmaker to the British Royal Family, a role it still holds today.
After the Second World War, London once again rose to become one of the world's leading fashion capitals, with Thomas Mason playing no small part in the revival. New patterns and colours came into vogue, and menswear entered a freer, more expressive era.
The union with the Italian house of Albini
The year 1992 ranks among the most pivotal in the brand's entire history. It was then that Thomas Mason joined forces with David & John Anderson and, above all, with the Italian Albini Group from Bergamo.
The secret behind the quality of Thomas Mason shirts
- The foundation is the finest Egyptian cotton. Thomas Mason owns its own plantations in the most fertile part of the Nile Delta. It is there that the plants enjoy ideal conditions, producing exceptionally long and strong fibres. - All cotton is hand-washed. Special cameras reveal even the tiniest impurities, which the weavers then remove. What remains are only soft, strong and radiantly white fibres. - The fine yarn is then processed on state-of-the-art machinery under the watchful eye of experienced weaving masters. - Every single metre of fabric is inspected with a magnifying glass by six experienced technicians - once before finishing, and once after. - The brand manages and oversees the entire process: the growing, processing and inspection of the cloth. This is how it can always guarantee the highest quality.
We will gladly tailor a shirt for you from luxurious Thomas Mason cotton fabrics at Blažek Tailoring. Simply arrange an appointment and we will take care of the rest!
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