Business Notes HABERDASHERY

The elegantly dressed tailors on London's Savile Row, who cater to customers willing to spend $1,250 for a custom-made suit, at times decide to "take it in a little." But now some fear that their own historic district may soon be subject to alterations that could send it the way of the Nehru jacket. A zoning change before Britain's Environment Secretary would eliminate the distinction between offices and light industry. The tailors fear that once landlords realized they could convert Savile Row's shops from light-industry status into office space, rents would quadruple and many shops in the 140- year-old district would be forced to close.

The normally quiet tailors, who account for 3,000 jobs and more than $44 million in annual sales, are not sitting around with their hands in their pockets. Some have written letters to Parliament. Others have asked U.S. customers, who make up 60% of Savile Row's clientele, to protest to the British embassy.