MUMBAI 27/11/2008

“We shall fight them on the Catwalks”

At 9pm last night Vasu, friend and front man for the Indian broadcaster NDTV, put down his drink and picked up his phone: shootings and an explosion in the south of the city. He left us scanning the TV for any breaking news and twenty minutes later he was in the studio, in a suit and on air. Then it started. As we heard bomb blasts from the balcony, all the channels switched to constant coverage. Pictures of bloodied casualties, corpses, chaos, catastrophe and confusion. Victoria Terminus, a station so busy it makes Grand Central look provincial, saw uncountable carnage as gunmen opened fire on the crowds; two car bombs, one in the north, one in the south; another bomb at the Bombay Municipal Council offices; gunmen at the city’s two top international hotels, the Taj and the Oberoi; and extensive shooting on the streets in between. As we watched events unfold, the five of us hit the phones, checking on friends and relatives. One caught in a now darkened room in the Taj; one lucky escape through a back door at the Oberoi; two hiding out in a bar, grenades and shooting outside. We watched late into the night. All very close and very real.

This morning the picture is clearer (and Vasu is still on air). The focus is now on the two hotels where assailants have let off bombs, lit fires and taken hostages - specifically asking for those with American or British passports. I see…

It’s all still going on as I type and the full extent of the situation is still not known. My Indian friends are furious. Furious with the government, the intelligence services, with India itself. Furious with the perpetrators and for the loss of life and fearful of the damage to the country’s credibility, finances and development. For my part, I’m feeling a curious mix of half responsible and half victim. Clearly the world’s largest democracy is having a little trouble and it is being expressed through a focus on capitalism and trade inequalities.

But we know better. I know that if we pull out our operations people will go hungry; if we stay, things will get better. We will not abandon our people because of the misguided few. We will be giving full support to all of our employees and their families and we will, in no way, allow this to effect our and our suppliers business.

So, continue:

REAL BESPOKE

Made for you, from you.

We are now making Social Suicide bespoke - fully bespoke: endless measurements, three fittings, hand stitching, suits-you-sir, the works. Jo Morgan, one of Savile Row’s finest, and the man behind the Social Suicide cut, will be making any of our designs for your body. You really will find no finer tailor in the world, no better made suit and, excuse me, no better suit designs.

WEDDING SUIT

Made from you, for you.

Our wedding suit is not just a beautiful suit, it’s made with pieces of you. Give us a selection of fabrics and we’ll stitch them into the top pocket flap, close to the heart. Old, new, borrowed, blue; mum’s wedding dress, dad’s hospital gown; Arsenal’s strip, your school uniform; your lucky pants, the bride’s knickers; any number of things. Tuck it in for modesty and pop it out with pride.

POP-UP SHOP

Gallery exhibition and pop-up store in Highgate High Street.

For the months of December through February, Thursday through Saturday, we’ll be exhibiting at the North & South Gallery. A walk through the past four years and an opportunity for a little Christmas shopping all in the almost village-like setting of Highgate. I counted a remarkable 4 pubs crossing the road to Costa Coffee. I never did get the coffee.

From Thursday 11th December at North & South, 82 Highgate High Street, London N6 5HX Map