He quickly mastered his trade and was the chief pattern cutter for Vanguards Raincoats, which was made historic by the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

With Ellis’s fast growing family and his creative mind ever evolving, he decided to start Sterling in a small factory in the heart of East London.

Although the 70’s proved to be a difficult time for most Britons, with mass unemployment and the 3-day week, the Sterling company continued to expand as they moved to a larger location close by on Charlotte St. It was here Ellis began to mix his tailoring skills with his love of leather.

It was in the late 1970’s that Ellis was approached by the UN and asked to be involved with their project to help make factory conditions in the undeveloped world more suitable for their workers. Ellis travelled to Bangalore in India, setting up factories that mirrored the successful model he had established in the UK, pioneering to bring standards into modern age.

As Ellis continued to be a strong ambassador for the UN in India, back home the business expanded. Sons Laurence, Michael, Steven and Jeff had joined their father at Sterling. Their diverse customer base continued to prosper from Burberry, Paul Smith and Gieves & Hawkes.

Across Europe manufacturing costs were high and factories were rapidly closing, Sterling however continued to innovate and evolve. Business remained strong in India and during this time the company expanded into China, whilst keeping their base in Great Britain.

Sterling continues to innovate and expand today. The brand was born from a passion for creating high quality garments, which embody the functionality and understanding of our rapidly changing world.