Interview: Trevor Pickett, retail legend

Trevor-Pickett-tgj

A staple of London’s recently-revamped Burlington Arcade, leather goods specialists Pickett deliver quality products crafted from a wide range of beautiful British leathers. Mr. Trevor Pickett, the owner, has run the business for an incredible 25 years. The iconic British ‘editor’ (not ‘designer’, as he himself points out) has a longstanding ethos to produce luxury leather goods, all of which are proudly handmade in England from start to finish.

His shop-come-emporium is adorned with luggage, games, pashminas, Kilim slippers and jewellery, making it the go-to destination for leather goods in London. We recently caught up with him to celebrate 25 years of his reign, and to bring you answers to some of the most pressing questions the world has about him.

How does Trevor describe his personal tastes and passions?

“My taste in art ranges from the classics to the modern”, says Trevor. “I buy new work and always buy on ‘like’, not ‘investment’. When it comes to music, I like all genres. In classical music, Wagner Britten-to-now is my favourite period, including both European and American composers. I adore foreign films like I Am Love, Pina and Sunday In The Country.”

He also has a thing for outdoor pursuits. “I learned to ride when I was 30 and was hunting in six months”, he says. “I attempted point-to-point and was taught horse racing by Matthew Gingell, whose family has a background in horse racing and hunting. Having recently taken up shooting, I’m thinking motocross next!”

How did Trevor get his start in retail?

“I came to London to work as a management trainee for The Army and Navy Stores, as it was then in Victoria, in September 1979, aged 16. On 16 June 1980, I started working at 41 Burlington Arcade for The Unicorn Leather Company, established in 1952, which meant that the business I bought in 1988 has had a leather goods heritage in the Arcade for 60 years! The store I originally worked in retailed on the ground floor and sold only English-made leather goods. I was made manager when I was 18, allowing me to expand the range of products.”

Asked about his professional inspirations, he names Diane Levene, creator of luxury cashmere brand N.Peal, as his “retail heroine”. ,

How did Pickett become the success it is today?

“The company was bought out in 1983 by a knitwear, hosier and shirt maker who sold the store to me in 1988”, says Trevor. “During their period of ownership, we started to retail on the two floors of the space at 41 Burlington Arcade. It was at this stage that I introduced gloves, umbrellas, and began selling scarves. The success of scarf sales made me look at the market more closely, which is when I discovered Georgina von Etzdorf. We subsequently devoted the basement to them in December of 1988.”

“We opened the Etzdorf store on Sloane Street 18 years ago, and also opened a stand-alone shop for Georgina von Etzdorf in the early 90s, freeing up the basement of 41 BA for Tanner Krolle, then the most exclusive English-made luggage.”

“The end of the retail relationship with Etzdorf in the mid-90s meant we had created a gap in our scarf offering. This is when we started selling pashminas, at the start of what became the boom, allowing us to expand into the larger store we now occupy. Pashminas were followed by jewellery and over the years we’ve developed ranges that are made specifically for Pickett. Now we’re in our 25th year as Pickett, and 60th of being an English-made leather shop in the Arcade.”

Finally, what does Trevor think of Britain’s big retail names?

Andrew Soos: “Best flat goods maker in the UK”

Maison: “Lizard of extreme beauty”

Mr Lesage: “King of embroidery and Haute Couture, now part of Chanel”

Freddie Launer: “Handbag maker to the Queen”

Geoffrey Krolle: “Founder of fine luggage company Tanner Krolle”

Miss Dixon: “The woman behind Fox Umbrellas”

Roger Keen: “Mind behind Reynolds and Kent Gloves”

Valerie Louthan: “The first real knitwear designer”

Visit pickett.co.uk

Love leather products? Here’s our selection of leather goods every gentleman should invest in.

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