Doesn’t suit you, sir: Alan Lewis loses Nutter brand

A high court row over the rights to use a famous 1960s Savile Row tailoring brand has been lost by Conservative Party vice-chairman Alan Lewis.

Mr Lewis, who also owns menswear brand Crombie, has lost the right to use the Tommy Nutter brand name - a Savile Row tailor that was famous for dressing Mick Jagger, Elton John and Cher.

Mr Lewis - who made headlines last month when he was bailed following an historic rape allegation - had been appealing against an earlier decision over the rights to the Tommy Nutter trademark.

The High Court today upheld the decision made by the UK Intellectual Property Office in February to revoke Mr Lewis's use of the Tommy Nutter name due to non-use and award it to businessman David Mason who owns and runs Nutters of Savile Row.

Tommy Nutter's heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s, when the tailor rose to fame for dressing rock stars and made the outfits for Mick and Bianca Jagger's wedding. Tommy Nutter himself died in 1992, but by then various brand names had been created leading to a variety of trademarks and ownerships.

Mr Lewis, the Tory vice-chairman for business, owns Crombie through his J&J Crombie company and Crombie had previously supplied Tommy Nutter with his cloth.

According to industry bible Drapers, Mr Lewis has been ordered to pay costs - in excess of £3000.

J & J Crombie said: "J & J Crombie Ltd will continue to defend its historic and current rights and goodwill to the Tommy Nutter brand in all markets, and will seek permission to appeal the recent local UK judgment."