So Long, Martin White

Textile Consultant Martin White died on Thursday aged ninety-five. After the loss of his business partner Philip Pittack from Covid in 2020, Martin continued running Crescent Trading, Spitalfields’ last cloth warehouse, until recently. Martin White, aged two in 1933 “That was the difference between Philip & me,” explained Martin White, articulating the precise distinction between himself and his business partner Philip Pittack, “He was a Rag Merchant, whereas I am a Textile Consultant. I understand textiles, I know about suitings and have been dealing in them since 1946. Our different specialities complemented each other.” Famous for his monocle and pearl tiepin, as well as his unrivalled knowledge, Martin White was one half of the duo at Crescent Trading, possessing more than one hundred and twenty years of experience in the business between them. Their continuous comedy repartee won them a reputation as the Mike & Bernie Winters of the textile trade. In particular, Martin was known…