Initially founded in 1932 to supply quality fabrics to high end fashion houses, Jacqmar of London began to concentrate on scarf designs in the 1940’s. The company was bought out by Richard Allan (one of their designers) in the 1950’s but scarves continued to be manufactured under the Jacqmar name until the 1970’s. Based in Mayfair, Richard Allan was a major name in the London art and fashion scene in the 1960’s, he sold the business and complete design archive in 1982. His silk scarves, with eclectic designs, reflected the move away from past austerity towards colour and fun, perfect for London in the swinging sixties. The designs were printed on silk at David Evans & Co in Crayford, Kent and hand hemmed in West London. Scarves were sold in London’s iconic stores including Liberty of London, Harrods and Selfridges, a global reputation reached Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue in New York.
Jacqmar and Richard Allan
