Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
City outfitter a cut
Generations of gents had suits from Reform St
COOPER & McKenzie welcomed generations through its doors on the street once dubbed Dundee’s Savile Row.
The “old-style” tailor shop in Reform Street was the place for immersing yourself in the world of dapper threads.
The stylish street was the first to be laid out as a result of the local 1825 Improvement Act and changed the nature of the town.
Two shoemakers, one hatter, five clothiers and two silk merchants were among the merchants to move to Reform Street.
By 1864, when the town’s population had reached nearly 100,000, the street hosted a dozen tailors alone.
In 1874, a firm of Adams and Cushnie were potato merchants there and they did what was common in these days.
The partners hired a working tailor to make clothes for themselves and their families.
For a decade, the firm developed and continued the dual role of tailors and potato merchants, trading as JD Adams and Co.
It decided future prosperity was to be made in the tailoring side of the business.
The firm became known as JD Mitchell, who had been head cutter. Later JC McKenzie took over the reins and was joined in 1918 by DH Mitchell.
Business boomed.
In 1946, George Cooper, a Dundee furriers, was purchased and larger shop premises were secured.
A limited company was formed and the Cooper & McKenzie name and style adopted.
The 1960s marked a major shift in the fashion world.
The arrival of Beatlemania in 1963 marked a massive growth in business with demand for the collarless jacket.
The standard template gave way to more flamboyant styles in the Swinging Sixties.
Obviously proud of its craft and tailoring background, the company was also quick to adapt to present day modes of tailoring.
Cooper & McKenzie had polyester and wool trousers on sale in Dundee a full year ahead of most other shops and the rush was unprecedented.
Following a work-study tour of Sweden in 1967, Cooper &
McKenzie took the local lead in introducing suits from Scandinavia.
This was an unusual thing at that time and heralded the beginning of its International Line label.
It was this sort of tempo that led to the dress hire side of the business being discontinued in 1972. The space made available provided storage room for a further 3,500 garments.
An Evening Telegraph advertising feature in 1974 said the skill and attentiveness of the shop and workshop staff contributed to the firm’s success.
“The practical tailoring and fitting background ensures customers can get that very special fit in ready-to-wear clothes,” it read.
“The firm also considers its independence of prime importance as more and more city-centre shops are taken over or belong to national chains.”
Cooper & McKenzie remained a constant but ever-evolving symbol of success in a changing high street.
A check round the shop in 1975 revealed that it had 4,000 pairs of trousers on the premises.
As well as the normal spring stock of 1,900 pairs, there was a special-value stock of 2,100 pairs.
The Evening Telegraph said the tailoring department for ladies and gents was as busy as ever in 1975.
“The attributes of skill and attention continue to be the uppermost qualities in both shop and workshop.”
Tradition and experience were a great source of pride to the business, but it was “very much a firm of the 20th Century”. The power suit and striped banker shirt soared in popularity with men using them to create a sharp image during the 1980s yuppies era.
At the turn of the decade, there were 2,000 single- and doublebreasted suits in stock available in 55 different fittings.
Customers were assured of good advice, unmatched value and the best selection for miles around.
The firm’s Reform Street premises were extended and refitted to allow a greater range of stock.
In 1995, Cooper & McKenzie received the Highly Commended award in a national contest run by Menswear trade magazine.
There was hanging capacity for over 5,000 suits in 1997.
A February promotion included a free shirt and tie worth up to £20 with every suit bought.
As they say in business, nothing is forever.
Cooper & McKenzie shut up shop in 2019 after 145 years in the city.
Manager Grant Mitchell, pictured top, said he had always planned to step down from retail at this point in his career.
He said: “It’s another chapter in my life.
“I will be going into developing property and the retail section of the business will close.”
The premises on Reform Street were put up for let following the January sales.
The building has been gathering dust since it fell dormant.
Dundee’s Savile Row is now just a distant memory.