Designer who once dressed gangster to design Autograph suits

Marks & Spencer has struck a deal with a tailor who once dressed the East End gangster Ronnie Kray.

Mark Powell is designing a line of 1960s-inspired garments for the high street giant’s Autograph line. His M&S collection will debut with five suits, three coats, six shirts and accessories that will be sold online and in seven stores.

An M&S spokesman said that Powell was a “larger than life East End character”. He added: “Much of his work is established by the 1960s and is very distinctive: narrow lapels and the like. It will give our Autograph range a certain edge – his suits are a slightly different style to the traditional suits we offer.”

Separately, M&S will unveil its autumn/winter range on Wednesday with the launch of an ad campaign that will feature the models Twiggy, Laura Bailey, Noémie Lenoir and Myleene Klass on the Orient Express to Venice.

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