Aquascutum, the historic British clothing brand which has clad Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother in its erstwhile trenchcoats is on the brink of collapse.
Around 250 jobs are at stake, and though Tilland invested around £20 million in Aquascutum after purchasing it in 2009, the Financial Times understands he can no longer afford to support its losses.
Aquascutum was founded in 1851 by tailor John Emary. He patented the technique of water-proofing wools and reportedly was the first tailor to introduce the cloth in his designs. Aquascutum is a fusion of the Latin words for water (aqua) and shield (scutum).
In its early days it was best known for a style of trenchcoat worn during the First World War, after the company was commissioned by the government to design coats for British soldiers
Lady Thatcher has also been pictured in the company's designs, as well as Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant. Glamourous Hollywood stars such as Sophia Loren and Greta Garbo also favoured the British stalwart. Take a look at some of their classic shots below.
Launch Slideshow
HIDE THUMBNAILS
1 of 9
PLAY ALL
VOTE ON THIS SLIDE
ADVERTISEMENT
[{"entry_id":"3460538","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/brazil-protests_n_3460538.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303697\/slide_303697_2583296_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303697\/slide_303697_2583296_small.jpg","title":"Rio de Janeiro Protests","slideshow_id":"303697","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452946","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/madeleine-mccann-news-home-office-fund-scotland-yard-investigation-_n_3452946.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222510\/slide_222510_1548385_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222510\/slide_222510_1548385_small.jpg","title":"Madeleine McCann","slideshow_id":"222510","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3440586","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/homosexuality-not-tolerated-pakistan-google-searches-gay-porn_n_3440586.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301474\/slide_301474_2538798_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301474\/slide_301474_2538798_small.jpg","title":"Global Divide On Homosexuality ","slideshow_id":"301474","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3458346","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/lamb-ears-hacked-off-wears-homemade-bonnet-picture_n_3458346.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303650\/slide_303650_2582477_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303650\/slide_303650_2582477_small.jpg","title":"Nelson The Sheep","slideshow_id":"303650","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3441561","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/pope-francis-meets-justin-welby_n_3441561.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303088\/slide_303088_2571153_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303088\/slide_303088_2571153_small.jpg","title":"Pope Francis meets the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby","slideshow_id":"303088","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3454157","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/taksim-square-protesters_n_3454157.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301200\/slide_301200_2533431_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301200\/slide_301200_2533431_small.jpg","title":"Turkey Protests","slideshow_id":"301200","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452872","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/boris-johnson-playing-ten_n_3452872.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303403\/slide_303403_2577410_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303403\/slide_303403_2577410_small.jpg","title":"Celebrity Tennis Match - AEGON Championships 2013 ","slideshow_id":"303403","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3449671","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/taksim-square-_n_3449671.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303315\/slide_303315_2574922_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303315\/slide_303315_2574922_small.jpg","title":"Taksim Square ","slideshow_id":"303315","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3445657","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/15\/iran-elections-hassan-rouhani_n_3445657.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303101\/slide_303101_2571455_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303101\/slide_303101_2571455_small.jpg","title":"Iran Votes","slideshow_id":"303101","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3449738","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/pope-blesses-harley-davidson-bikers_n_3449738.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303320\/slide_303320_2574977_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303320\/slide_303320_2574977_small.jpg","title":"Pope Blesses Harley Davidson Riders ","slideshow_id":"303320","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3446072","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/15\/queen-trooping-the-colour_n_3446072.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303265\/slide_303265_2573859_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303265\/slide_303265_2573859_small.jpg","title":"Trooping The Colour","slideshow_id":"303265","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3440345","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/gregory-steinmedc-farmer-survives-circular-power-saw-embeds-stomach-graphic-pictures_n_3440345.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/23960\/slide_23960_1364379_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/23960\/slide_23960_1364379_small.jpg","title":"Wild X-Rays And Medical Photos","slideshow_id":"23960","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3453747","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/second-avenue-subway_n_3453747.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303428\/slide_303428_2577818_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303428\/slide_303428_2577818_small.jpg","title":"Second Avenue Subway","slideshow_id":"303428","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3453384","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/nick-griffin-nigella-lawson-row-pictures-twitter_n_3453384.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303415\/slide_303415_2577653_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303415\/slide_303415_2577653_small.jpg","title":"Nigella Lawson","slideshow_id":"303415","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3457628","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/met-office-weird-weather-climate-_n_3457628.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/269563\/slide_269563_1877606_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/269563\/slide_269563_1877606_small.jpg","title":"Weird Weather 2012","slideshow_id":"269563","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452471","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/rouhani-cameron-iran-g8_n_3452471.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303379\/slide_303379_2577206_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303379\/slide_303379_2577206_small.jpg","title":"G8 Summit Belfast","slideshow_id":"303379","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452691","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/dalai-lama-female-compassion-sensitivity_n_3452691.html","content_type":"quote","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/236354\/slide_236354_1174183_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/236354\/slide_236354_1174183_small.jpg","title":"77 Wise Sayings By The Dalai Lama On His 77th Birthday","slideshow_id":"236354","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3450355","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/ian-brady-moors-murders-keith-bennet_n_3450355.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/300264\/slide_300264_2512800_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/300264\/slide_300264_2512800_small.jpg","title":"Murderers Who WIll Die in Prison","slideshow_id":"300264","vertical":"uk"}]
another english company gone.. soon we will make nothing in this country. and why ? because the damn greedy government charge too much for english companys to produce goods in our own country. well done government. you are going to kill off this country very soon that used to be great...I am ashamed to be english
ianok: another english company gone.. soon we will make nothing in
dont worry folks another british owned company to be bought up by japan/china/hong kong
so whats new.almost everything else is foreign owned why not this company.
jkeswell: dont worry folks another british owned company to be bought
Trademarks of British quality have been eclipsed ,unfortunately ,by cheaper products from mostly Asian countries. Were a higher import duty imposed then manufacturing in this country might survive.
Norman_Mitchison: Trademarks of British quality have been eclipsed ,unfortunately ,by cheaper
Loading comments… 
PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted: 17/04/2012 10:14 Updated: 17/04/2012 10:14