PROFILE OF MARK MARENGO
Mark Stephen Marengo was born in London, and there followed an interesting childhood living between New York and Paris.
The influences of these three great cities have given him a cosmopolitan outlook on life, and a real passion for quality and design.
Mark commenced his career somewhat unusually with an Economics degree in London, but decided to follow his artistic streak into the fashion business, where he worked for three years with a famous English tie maker, before branching out on his own.
In 1990 he opened his showroom in Paris, simultaneously launching his own first tailoring and neckwear collections under the MARK STEPHEN MARENGO label,at Sehm - the menswear Pret-a-porter show. Other shows followed, such as Pitti Uomo in Florence and The Designer Collective in New York.
Within a few years the collection was selling to leading retailers worldwide, including Beams and Tomorrowland in Tokyo, Seibu in Hong Kong, Le Bon Marche in Paris, Barneys in New York, and Harrods and Fenwick in London.
In 1996 Mark opened his first menswear shop just off Regent Street, with the help of his brother Neil. Their success was immediate. Another five shops followed in the City, Docklands and West End . Everything was and is designed by Mark himself with the main specialisations being tailoring, shirts, ties, accessories, and hand-made shoes.
Mark Stephen Marengo was born in London, and there followed an interesting childhood living between New York and Paris.
The influences of these three great cities have given him a cosmopolitan outlook on life, and a real passion for quality and design.
Mark commenced his career somewhat unusually with an Economics degree in London, but decided to follow his artistic streak into the fashion business, where he worked for three years with a famous English tie maker, before branching out on his own.
In 1990 he opened his showroom in Paris, simultaneously launching his own first tailoring and neckwear collections under the MARK STEPHEN MARENGO label,at Sehm - the menswear Pret-a-porter show. Other shows followed, such as Pitti Uomo in Florence and The Designer Collective in New York.
Within a few years the collection was selling to leading retailers worldwide, including Beams and Tomorrowland in Tokyo, Seibu in Hong Kong, Le Bon Marche in Paris, Barneys in New York, and Harrods and Fenwick in London.
In 1996 Mark opened his first menswear shop just off Regent Street, with the help of his brother Neil. Their success was immediate. Another five shops followed in the City, Docklands and West End . Everything was and is designed by Mark himself with the main specialisations being tailoring, shirts, ties, accessories, and hand-made shoes.
In 2006 whilst undertaking a challenging 2 month sailing voyage; a renaissance occurred in Mark's vision for his 16 year old English clothing brand, together with a real passion and determination to move his business forward.
This renewed focus was the turning point, with a move upmarket for the rebranded shortened MARK MARENGO line, and the introduction of a Limited Edition label offering completely hand made items.
The opening in June 2008 of 31 SAVILE ROW has symbolised the new move forward.
Here, in reflection of the historical tradition of this prestigious street, Mark Marengo offers a fully bespoke tailoring service, under the supervision of his Director brother, Neil.
The opening in June 2008 of 31 SAVILE ROW has symbolised the new move forward.
Here, in reflection of the historical tradition of this prestigious street, Mark Marengo offers a fully bespoke tailoring service, under the supervision of his Director brother, Neil.
Alongside suits, jackets and coats, are bespoke shirts, featuring hand-stitched buttonholes and armholes, bespoke ties and shoes, where the customer's foot lasts are taken.
Mark Marengo's design ethos is neatly summarised in his own words as:Different in the detail, Classic with a twist
Contemporarily bridging the gulf that lies between old style Savile Row traditionalism, and modernist show-biz gimmickry, Mark's clothes are always beautifully made, but also absolutely wearable.
Contemporarily bridging the gulf that lies between old style Savile Row traditionalism, and modernist show-biz gimmickry, Mark's clothes are always beautifully made, but also absolutely wearable.
The highest emphasis is placed on cut and quality and a strong bespoke element also runs throughout the ready to wear collections. Contrary to many others, all alterations are made by his own nine in-house tailors.
Suits are sharp cut and and traditionally hand-finished, feature real opening cuffs, corruzo buttons and hand-stitched armholes. Fabrics in fine wools, cashmere, mohair and linen are sourced from Vitale Barberis Canonico, Guabello, and Tollegno.
Shirts are fitted and single-needle stitched throughout , made with the finest cotton and linen shirting fabrics in the world from Thomas Mason, Cotonificio Albini ,Testa and SIC Tess.
Ties are hand-made by artisans in Southern Italy using silks exclusively designed by Mark and woven by the prestigious English silk weaver Vanners.
Shoes are hand-made by traditional shoe makers using the finest hand burnished leathers with a strong emphasis on comfort . Alongside refined City styles, Mark also offers his own range of practical leather sport shoes .
The company's growth is entirely organic without recourse to outside finance, and this freedom has always formed the basis of Mark Marengo's success; there being no compromise on anything for the sake of the bottom line.
Quality, design and customer service always come first.