Whilst seen as a competitor of high-end clothing brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Gantand Jack Wills, it is also regarded by 'fashion bibles', such as the exclusive lifestyle magazine Departures, as on a par with luxury fashion houses and tailors such as Brioniand Gieves & Hawkes.
Hackett was founded in 1979 by Jeremy Hackett after a chance meeting with Ashley Lloyd-Jennings in Portobello Road, west London, while shopping for second-hand traditional British men's clothing. That year, the two formed a business and opened a market stall reselling the clothing they found.
The Hackett style is inspired by traditional British men's clothing. Founder Jeremy Hackett describes this approach to design as "our clothes wear in, not out"
Clothing ranges and styles on offer include polo shirts, rugby shirts and formal/dress clothing for men and children. In September 2009, Esquire magazine featured a Hackett silk tie as one of its top 5 fashion items. Ranges are also offered in conjunction with sponsorships and partners such as Aston Martin Racing, the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, and the British Army Polo Team.
More recently, Hackett has branched out into other, more diverse areas, offering bespoke men's tailoring, hairdressing, and tax-free shopping in selected stores in London