It may well come as a surprise in a market saturated with luxury ready-to-wear that the art of couture is thriving in the heart of Belgravia. Just a stone’s throw from Harvey Nichols lies Kinnerton Street, an elite enclave for royalty, writers and artists and home to the breathtaking work of Saint-Hill Couture.

The pairing of Saint-Hill Thompson and Britta von Basedow who founded the house of Saint-Hill Couture in 2001 could not of been more perfect. The dedication, disciplines and desire for the best is embodied by them both individually and as a team. Creative Director Saint-Hill developed his passion as a boy and would spend hours on his mother’s sewing machine and pouring over the old fashion books from the glamorous 1920s to the 1950s that have fuelled much of his inspiration today. His persistence at the age of 16 ensured that he was taken on by one of London’s Master Couturiers where he began learning his craft and developing his understanding of design, construction, quality and finishing. It was during his apprenticeship with the late Hachi that he sketched a design that caught the eye of Diana, Princess of Wales. The single-sleeved gown in cream silk crepe with an angular darting pattern worked in silver bugle beads was created for her first official tour of the commonwealth in 1983. The fact that it became the first of many headline-hitting dresses for Diana was a serious coup for the young British Cuban so early in his career.

Britta was born in Germany; the daughter of a ballet dancer and furniture maker and it was her love for her mother’s dancing costumes that set her on the road to a career in the fashion industry. Intrigued as much by their construction as their beauty, Britta was the first to volunteer to make costumes in her own early years as a dancer. The relationship between cloth, movement and the human form became more apparent to Britta as she went on to model as dancer and muse for Giovanni Khom, the German artist famous for his watercolour paintings. A three-year apprenticeship with master tailor Atelier Heiber resulted in a distinction and sponsorship by the government to travel abroad. Here on London’s Savile Row, Britta began a four-month placement that led to full-time employment with one establishment after another. Even so, the desire to broaden and hone her skills inspired Britta to fill her evenings with classes in millinery, draping and fashion drawing. As Technical Director of Saint-Hill Couture, Britta has the knowledge and skills acquired from years of training and dedication to draft a pattern block with the up-most precision, fitting the customer’s form like a glove.