Alfred Dunhill Limited
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Alfred Dunhill, Ltd. is a British-based company, specializing in men's luxury leather goods, writing implements, lighters, timepieces, fragrances and clothing. The business was developed by Alfred Dunhill after he inherited his father's saddlery business on London's Euston Road. Alfred Dunhill, responding to the growing demand for automobiles, developed a line of accessories called "Dunhill's Motorities". This first collection included car horns and lamps, leather overcoats, goggles, picnic sets and timepieces. Alfred Dunhill pitched the company under the slogan “Everything But The Motor”.
In 1967 Carreras acquired a 51% stake in the company. The company is currently owned by Richemont.
English actor Jude Law is the apparel ambassador for Alfred Dunhill international adverts. He has represented the company in Asia since 2005.
Dunhill has also occasionally provided various accessories for the cinematic James Bond throughout the series. The association first in 1962 began when the production team requested a gunmetal cigarette lighter for Sean Connery's introduction in Dr. No.
Dunhill have built a series of retail emporiums for men. The Homes of Alfred Dunhill aim to represent the experience of luxury, allowing the customer to live the brand. The retail environment is distinguished by a range of services – which include a bespoke tailoring service, barber’s shop, fine wine cellars, bar or restaurant, screening room and spa. The Homes are in London, Shanghai and Tokyo and a fourth Home will be opening in Hong Kong in late Spring 2010.
In 2008, dunhill appointed Kim Jones as Creative Director.
Alfred Dunhill Fragrances
All fragrances sold under the Alfred Dunhill brand name are manufactured and marketed through a licensing agreement by Procter and Gamble Prestige Products division. P&G gained the license as part of their 1995 acquisition of the Wella Corporation.
Rollagas Lighters
Developed in the mid 1950s, Dunhill produced one of the first butane gas lighters. This iconic design has remained relatively unchanged since and was regularly used by James Bond in both print and on the screen.
Sponsorship
Alfred Dunhill sponsors golf tournaments, formerly the Alfred Dunhill Cup, currently the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Played over three of the most famous links golf courses – the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns in Scotland – the championship gathers celebrities from the worlds of sports and screen to play alongside the world’s leading professional golf players.
Abridged Timeline
1893 – Aged 21, Alfred Dunhill takes over his father’s saddlery business and converts it into Dunhill’s Motorities, providing ‘Everything for the car but the motor’.
1903 – Alfred Dunhill’s first dashboard clock marks their entry into the timepiece arena.
1905 – Alfred Dunhill patents his Windshield Pipe, designed to allow comfortable smoking while driving or cycling.
1907 – Having retired from running the Motorities business, Alfred Dunhill opens a pipe, cigar and tobacco store among the men’s clubs of Duke Street, St. James’s, London SW1.
1910 – Alfred Dunhill opens a pipe factory near the store.
1915 – The trademark White Spot marking is added to Alfred Dunhill’s pipes.
1921 – Store opens in New York; Paris store opens three years later.
1927 – Alfred Dunhill launches the revolutionary Unique lighter, the first to be operated using just one hand.
1928 – Alfred Dunhill begins distributing the Namiki pen company’s maki-e lacquered pens.
1936 – The iconic Facet timepiece, based on Alfred Dunhill’s car head-lamp designs, is launched.
1941 – Alfred Dunhill’s Duke Street store is bombed during World War II; it was extended and rebuilt in the 1950s and recently renovated.
1956 – The Rollagas butane lighter is launched.
1963 – Manufacture of Dunhill brand cigarettes starts.
1985 – First annual Alfred Dunhill Cup golf tournament.
2000 – Alfred Dunhill Links golf championship supersedes Dunhill Cup.
2005 – Savile Row tailor Richard James, watchmaker Tom Bolt, casual-wear designer Nick Ashley and leather-smith Bill Amberg are brought on board to help revitalise the brand.
Rare and classic car event the Alfred Dunhill Motorities Tour is inaugurated.
2008 - Alfred Dunhill announces the appointment of menswear designer Kim Jones as Creative Director, a role Alfred Dunhill has not offered before now.
References
Foulkes, Nick. Dunhill By Design: A Very English Story (2006) ISBN 208030495X
Christian Barker. "High Gear", August Man magazine (Dec 2006)
http://www.johnfloresgraphics.com/CLdunhill.html
External links
