Five new names were added to the ranks of Savile Row Bespoke Association (SRBA) diploma holders last Friday evening, proof positive that the name Savile Row will be remaining synonymous with the very best in bespoke tailoring for many more years to come.

The presentations of this year’s diplomas took place on July 10th at the splendid Merchant Taylors' Hall, as part of the Bespoke Tailors' Benevolent Association (BTBA) Summer Party. It was, as ever, both a wonderfully convivial and well-dressed occasion, with cutters, coatmakers, apprentices and cloth merchants and the like gathering in the courtyard for drinks before dinner.

The Savile Row Bespoke Diploma is recognised as the foremost qualification in bespoke Savile Row tailoring, and is awarded only after a testing, years-long apprenticeship served at the hands of a master at an SRBA member house. Since the scheme was founded in 2004, in excess of 100 young people have graduated through it and gone on to practise their unique craft on Savile Row and beyond.

This year's graduates and the houses at which they trained are Charlie Norman (pictured, top centre, Edward Sexton, coat making, trained by Henry Humphries), Eve Wilson (pictured, bottom left, Dege & Skinner, coat making, trained by Emma Martin), and Noemi Valletta (pictured, top left), Ella May Ingram (pictured, bottom right) and Sheila Mirlohi (pictured, top right), all Dege & Skinner, trouser making, trained by Birtan "Burt" Salih. Our congratulations go to all of them.

Warm thanks are due to the BTBA for again putting on a splendid evening, as well as this year's diploma-work judging panel (Davide Taub of Gieves & Hawkes, Joe Morgan of Chittleborough & Morgan, and Jinny Seals and Philip Parker of Henry Poole & Co) and the London Academy of Bespoke for hosting the judging.

Top and bottom photos by Mbah Tekoh Mbachan.