Obituary: Menswear veteran Michael Whitby-Grubb (24.10.1953-27.10.2023)
Many tributes have been paid on social media to highly-popular menswear veteran Michael Whitby-Grubb who died unexpectedly on 27 October, three days after his 70th birthday.
“Very sad news. Great man. Loved our appointments at Aquascutum,” wrote Duncan McKenzie , co-owner of Aphrodite in Sunderland. “I can’t believe this devastating news. Michael was such a lovely man. We had many great times at Pitti. Another iconic fashion legend gone too soon,” said David Dalby, founder of the influential Leeds boutique Strand.
“One of menswear’s greats. Worked with him at Duchamp and Aquascutum – and who can forget Mulberry? RIP MWG,” commented Anne Horton, formerly of Harrods, Simpson Piccadilly and Beales. “Such sad news, what a great man,” commented ex-Baird and Ben Sherman marketing director Kevin Stone. “That’s so sad. Such a lovely man and always the best-dressed in the room,” noted Lucy Walsh of The Brand Ambassadors fashion agency.
“Oh dear, very sad news. A proper top man,” remarked Everton Campbell, co-founder of the Hip menswear store in Leeds. “Michael was a true gentleman. I always looked forward to our meetings at Aquascutum,” added Tony Links at Slaters Menswear. “Michael was true one-off. Erudite, worldly, kind of heart and generous of spirit, he cut a dash in so, so many ways. Miss him already,” said Khabi Mirza, co-owner of Fabric PR and a former menswear writer.
A dapper dresser and a kindly soul, Whitby-Grubb was one of the celebrated “graduates” of Village Gate, the famous London-based menswear chain of the 1970s run by John Simons and Jeffrey Kwintner. Among other notables who started their careers with the business were Woodhouse founder Philip Start, Neil Prosser of Flannels and Duchamp founder Mitchell Jacobs, who was to work with Whitby-Grubb many years later.
Michael Whitby-Grubb pictured with Mark Steyn, owner of Sticky Fingers, in Fashion Weekly in 1986 (Eric Musgrave)
As well as a being a very sociable creature, Whitby-Grubb was best known as a laid-back but persuasive salesman. Although latterly working at the top end of menswear, he cut his wholesale teeth in the mid-1980s selling Sticky Fingers, at the time a successful directional women’s (and sometimes men’s) fashion label.
After Sticky Fingers, in the late 1980s he worked briefly in the surfwear sector and for a short period acted as agent for a short-lived jeanswear line from an emerging John Galliano called Galliano Genes. He also sold Valentino Jeans in the UK.
He began to find his natural metier when he joined British accessory brand Mulberry in the era of founder Roger Saul to handle sales. A stint with Aquascutum in the Kim Winser era of the early 2000s followed.
The late Mitchell Jacobs and Michael Whitby-Grubb pictured at Pitti (Eric Musgrave)
By now he had developed the immaculate but slightly eccentric personal style which was a familiar sight at the major international menswear shows such as Pitti Uomo. This was developed when he handled sales for Mitchell Jacobs’ flamboyant tie and accessory brand, Duchamp.
After Jacobs sold Duchamp and had a very short-lived “retirement”, the pair teamed up again for Jacob’s even more refined men’s accessory collection Penrose London, with Whitby-Grubb again in charge of global sales.
When Penrose closed Whitby-Grubb worked for the Matchless brand for a short time. He left his native south-east London to retire to north Devon but kept in touch with his many friends in the business via social media.
It was through his Facebook page his family announced he had died. Michael Whitby-Grubb is survived by his three children Bridie, Ben and Storme., who will publish funeral details in due course.
All images courtesy of Eric Musgrave.
