1853-1929

In 1853, John Redfern was born in England. In the 1850's, he worked as a tailor and by 1871 he had extended his business to sell silk and mourning clothes.

The town of Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, where he lived, became a centre of the yachting world at the end of the 19th century, and so he began designing sports clothes for women.

In 1881, he created a costume worn by Lillie Langtry, the mistress of the Prince of Wales who subsequently became King Edward 7th.

In the same year, he established businesses in London and Paris, followed later by branches in Edinburgh and New York. His son Ernest took charge of the London and New York branches and Charles Poynter looked after his Paris salon.

By 1885 Redfern was producing yachting suits, travelling suits and riding habits.

In 1888 he was appointed dressmaker to Queen Victoria.

Redfern helped popularize the high-waisted so-called Grecian style of 1908. In 1916, he created the first women's uniform for the Red Cross.

Redfern closed his house in the 20's and died in 1929.






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