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What does a uniform tell you before anyone says hello?

Gresham Blake joins Antoine Melon and Gideon Lask to talk about dressing hospitality. His clients include The Savoy, Soho House and Nobu, but the conversation keeps coming back to the people wearing the clothes: how they move, how they feel and how much of themselves they can bring to work.

We hear how insurance and sculpture gave way to tailoring, what his mother taught him about making clothes, and why a designer needs to leave their ego at the door. There are bespoke tartans, managers who want to wear their own suits, ambitious briefs and the rather less glamorous business of budgets, washing and getting an order signed off.

Our hospitality highs and lows take in a lonely stay in a huge Dubai suite, the importance of getting a coffee at breakfast, counter dining and Gideon’s new favourite London hotel, The Newman.

Then we put Gresham Under Pressure with an imaginary hotel opening: the owner is mistaken for a waiter, the uniforms won’t let someone carry a tray, and Madonna wants the entire band dressed by tomorrow morning.

And if you know who’s designing the future BT Tower hotel, Gresham would very much like an introduction.

Mentioned in the episode:

Gresham Blake: https://greshamblake.com/

Gresham Blake Studios: https://gbstudios.com/

Lind + Almond, the designers behind The Newman: https://www.lindalmond.co/