Nestled on a quiet street in London's Fitzrovia district stands an unassuming shop that has served queens, prime ministers and Hollywood stars for more than half a century. Maureen Rose has been the proud owner of Taylors Buttons for over 50 years, maintaining London's last independent haberdashery dedicated exclusively to buttons and buckles.
A Living Museum of Button History
Step inside the humble shopfront at 22 Cleveland Street and you'll discover rows of shelves packed with small brown boxes, each containing a unique collection of fasteners that Maureen has committed to memory. The shop dates back over 100 years and occupies a building with remarkable literary connections - Charles Dickens himself lived there from 1815-1816 and again from 1828-1831.
"People often ask if this is a museum," Maureen explains. "It's essentially a complete history of buttons. I'm now the only independent button specialist left in London." The shop's location holds additional historical significance, situated just doors away from what was once a Victorian workhouse, commemorated by a blue plaque outside the haberdashery.
Royal Patronage and Special Commissions
What has kept Taylors Buttons thriving amid the decline of Britain's high streets is their specialty in handmade covered buttons created to order. This unique service has attracted global attention from tourists and button collectors alike, but most notably from the Royal Family.
One of Maureen's most cherished memories involves creating buttons for the late Queen Elizabeth II through the renowned couture houses of Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies. She also crafted buttons for garments worn by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
"The assistants would come in the morning to collect their orders, and at the top it would say HMQ - Her Majesty the Queen," Maureen recalls. "That's how I knew who I was making them for."
As a devoted royal supporter, Maureen designed the distinctive coral and grey buttons that Queen Elizabeth wore to celebrate the millennium at the Millennium Dome in 2000. These very buttons appear in the famous photograph of the Queen holding hands with then-Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Family Legacy and Modern Challenges
The Rose family acquired the business approximately 50 years ago, with Maureen and her husband Leon running it together until his passing in 2004. Today, Maureen operates the shop with her son Marc, who is expected to inherit the business eventually.
Like many small businesses, Taylors Buttons has faced significant challenges. During the pandemic, the shop was forced to close, accumulating £17,000 in unpaid rent. The public demonstrated their appreciation for this historic establishment by donating over £19,000 through a Crowdfunder campaign to keep its doors open.
"I used to open every day, but since Covid it's not worthwhile," Maureen explains. "With congestion charges and parking costs, it simply doesn't make financial sense."
Despite these hurdles, the business continues to attract royal clients including Queen Camilla and King Charles, alongside London's art and fashion students who seek unique buttons for their specialised designs. One particularly unusual request came from an art student who needed buttons made entirely from paper.
Taylors Buttons remains open at 22 Cleveland Street, W1T 4JB on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11am to 3.30pm, preserving a unique piece of London's retail history while continuing to serve both royalty and the creative community.
