Mayfair Furrier

A Memory of London.

In 1961, I became an apprentice furrier to Brainin Bothers of New Bond Street. Brainin's owned a large store (I was told it was as big as Harrods) in Russia.They escaped the Communists and moved to Vienna, only to escape Hitler in 1938. Max and Leo were the brothers and Nat Saunders was the Master Furrier. Every monday we would fill a taxi with Squirrel, Ermine and Mink coats and stoles, and deliver them to Harrods fur department. We had to be careful as criminals were very active in Mayfair. The Jewellers under where we worked was "smash and grabbed" just before I left work at 5pm one night. Later in 1964 (photo) I became a fur pattern maker under Adolf Kroll at Herbert Duncan's in 57 South Moulton Street; our clients were Elizabeth Taylor and Ursula Andress, who I helped make the fur bikini's for "Casino Royale." I studied Fur design, pattern making, machining and cutting at the London College of Fashion four nights a week, after work.
Mayfair was fabulous at that time, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous. We were given such small wages that employers gave us "Luncheon Vouchers"; I enjoyed Duck pie just behind Carnaby Street, saw the Beatles and Rolling Stones often.