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What’s This About
Hackett makes decent, classically British-styled menswear, but quality and construction differ between its ranges, so check each garment rather than trusting the label.
This guide explains how to judge Hackett quality before you buy, such as
Who founded Hackett and who owns it now
Half-canvas and floating-canvas tailoring explained
What to check on suits, shirts, knitwear and casual trousers
Where the cloth is woven compared with where a garment is made
Buying in sales and outlets
and many more!
Judge each Hackett garment by its cloth, construction and fit, not by the British name.
Key Points
01Jeremy Hackett and Ashley Lloyd-Jennings founded Hackett in 1983, starting with second-hand clothes.
02Hackett says its N°14 Savile Row suits have a floating canvas, but its pages disagree on whether its other suits are fused or half-canvassed, so check the exact suit yourself.
03Woven in England or Italy describes the cloth, not where the garment was made, so read the label.
04Price does not equal quality, so check seams, buttons and fit on every garment.
Hackett sells classic British-styled menswear at prices above the high street, so it is fair to ask whether the quality matches.
This guide sets out the documented facts about the brand, explains how its tailoring is built according to its own descriptions, and gives you the checks to make on each kind of garment before you buy.
It does not rely on anonymous reviews, which vary too much to prove anything about a whole range.
Hackett in Brief
Jeremy Hackett and Ashley Lloyd-Jennings founded Hackett in 1983, starting from a stall on London’s Portobello Road and a shop on the King’s Road in Chelsea that sold only second-hand clothes.
The founders’ eye for well-made used Savile Row tailoring shaped the classic British look the brand still sells.
Hackett then moved on to its own designs, opening in Madrid in 1989 and Paris in 1994.
Ownership has changed several times. Richemont sold the brand to the Spanish firm Torreal in 2005, the Pepe Jeans group that owned Hackett was bought by M1 Group and L Capital Asia in 2015, and the company is now owned by AWWG.
In June 2019 Hackett opened a flagship at 14 Savile Row, which gives its top tailoring range, N°14 Savile Row, its name.
For the separate question of whether Hackett counts as a luxury brand, see our guide to Hackett’s luxury status.
How Hackett Tailoring Is Built
The way a jacket’s chest is built is the clearest guide to tailoring quality at any price.
A fused jacket has its interlining glued to the outer cloth, which is cheaper and can stiffen or bubble over time.
A half-canvas jacket has a stitched-in canvas through the chest and lapels, so the lapel rolls naturally and the cloth moves with you.
A floating or full canvas runs through the whole front of the jacket and is basted to the cloth rather than glued.
Hackett’s website describes its N°14 Savile Row suits as floating-canvassed and says in its Savile Row FAQ that standard models are fused, while some of its other suit pages mention a half-canvas chest, so check the product description and use the pinch test.
It also says its suiting cloths are woven in England and Italy, including cloth from Loro Piana.
Woven in England or Italy describes where the cloth was made, not where the suit was sewn, so read the garment label for the country of manufacture.
To test any jacket yourself, pinch the cloth just below the top button. If you can feel a separate, loose layer inside, it is canvassed there, and if the layers feel stuck together, it is fused.
Quality Checks by Garment
Suits and blazers
Check the chest construction as above, then the fit at the shoulders, which is the hardest area to alter.
Campaign photographs can show a suit pinned or styled to look slimmer than it hangs, so judge the fit on your own body in the shop.
Look for even stitching around the lapels and buttonholes, and patterns that line up at the seams.
Shirts
Look at the collar first, checking that the points sit flat and even and that the collar closes without pinching.
Check that the fabric feels dense rather than thin, and that stripes or checks match at the front placket.
Casual trousers
Moleskin, corduroy and chino trousers are a large share of the brand’s smart casual range.
Check the weight of the cloth, the strength of the belt loops and pocket corners, and whether the waistband has room to be let out.
Knitwear
Read the fibre label, because lambswool and merino behave differently from cotton knits, and blends with synthetic fibres pill sooner.
A dense, springy knit that returns to shape after a gentle stretch will last longer than a loose, thin one.
Polo and rugby shirts
Hackett’s polo and rugby shirts are among its best-known casual garments, often with numbers and a large logo.
Check the weight of the cotton, the stitching around the collar and placket, and whether the embroidery is clean on the inside.
Licensed and partnership ranges
Hackett has made clothing for motorsport partners, and FashionNetwork reported on 23 March 2021 that it was continuing its Aston Martin link into the team’s Formula One return.
These ranges are styled for fans, so judge them on cloth and finish like any other Hackett garment.
Hackett Compared With Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is the brand most often compared with Hackett, because both sell classic, sporting menswear at similar prices.
Hackett’s look is more English, with tweeds, rugby shirts and tailoring cut in a British way, while Ralph Lauren’s is American, with a wider range of casual styles.
At the top of its range, Ralph Lauren Purple Label is priced well above Hackett’s mainline.
Compare the same garment from each, such as a navy blazer or a polo shirt, using the checks above rather than either brand’s reputation.
Where and When to Buy
Hackett’s own shops carry the full range and offer alterations, which helps when buying tailoring.
The brand holds regular seasonal sales, and outlet stores sell past-season and outlet stock at lower prices, which suits men dressing well on a budget.
Outlet stock can include garments made for outlets rather than past-season mainline, so use the same construction checks there.
Is Hackett Good Quality?
Judge it on these criteria rather than on the name.
Tailoring. Hackett says its N°14 Savile Row suits have a floating canvas and its standard models are fused, although some of its suit pages mention a half-canvas chest, so check the product description and test the chest yourself.
Casual wear. Moleskin and corduroy trousers, tweed jackets and rugby shirts suit the brand’s style well and are easy to judge in the shop.
Value. Compare full prices with other British-styled brands before you buy, and remember that sales and outlets lower the price of the same garment.
Consistency. Quality differs between ranges, so judge each garment on its own merits.
On balance, Hackett is a sound choice for classic British-styled casual wear and for its better tailoring ranges when the fit is right, while men buying a suit for heavy use should compare its construction carefully with other makers at the same price.
How to Wear Hackett’s Classic Look
Wear a brown check tweed jacket, a navy crew-neck jumper over a light blue Oxford shirt, olive moleskin trousers and brown suede boots.
Or wear a grey flannel double-breasted suit, a light blue shirt, a navy patterned tie and black or dark brown Oxford shoes.
Try a red or navy rugby shirt, stone chinos and white leather trainers, with a waxed jacket in cool weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Hackett a luxury brand?
Hackett is priced above the high street and below the major luxury houses, and its quality differs between ranges, so judge each garment rather than the label.
Q. Are Hackett suits canvassed?
Hackett describes its N°14 Savile Row suits as floating-canvassed, and its Savile Row FAQ says standard models are fused, although some of its other suit pages mention a half-canvas chest; check the product description and use the pinch test on the exact suit.
Q. Where are Hackett clothes made?
Its suiting cloths are woven in England and Italy, but garments are made in several countries, so check the label of the garment you are considering.
Sources
Wikipedia, “Hackett London”, for the founding, shop openings, owners and the 14 Savile Row flagship.
Hackett, wool suits and N°14 Savile Row suits pages, read 7 October 2026.
FashionNetwork, “Hackett continues Aston Martin link into F1 comeback year”, 23 March 2021.
Style Beyond the Label
Knowing what a brand offers is a useful start, but your own wardrobe works best when it suits your build, your colouring and the occasions you dress for.
Our guide to styling by occasion, location, season and time of day explains how to adapt outfits to each setting, and you can read what an image consultant does and how to choose an image consultant.
For further reading, see our guides to dressing for your body shape, seasonal colour palettes, clothing, garments, accessories, silhouette types, what an outfit is, our list of high-priced heritage brands and how logo-heavy luxury designs read.
Take our three quizzes, then book a consultation if you would like personal help.
1. Check Your Body Shape
Start with our body shape quiz for men.
2. Find Your Seasonal Colours
Then take our seasonal colour quiz for men.
3. Find Your Fashion Style
Then take our fashion style quiz for men, and read more about personal fashion style.
Personal Help From The VOU
Our styling services for men are paid consultations; the shop page lists what each one includes.
You can read about The VOU and our image consultants and fashion stylists before you book.
To ask a question first, contact us.