Menswear Style Podcast - podcast cover

Menswear Style Podcast

Menswear Style www.menswearstyle.co.uk

Welcome to the official Menswear Style Podcast, hosted by Peter Brooker. In this men's fashion, men's style, men’s grooming and men’s lifestyle focused podcast show we speak to some of the most influential designers, innovative brand founders and truly inspiring entrepreneurs from within the global fashion and apparel industry. Our aim is to bring you a detailed insight into founder start-up stories with a focus on sustainability, marketing, design, manufacturing, eCommerce, and operations.

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Episodes

Benjamin Heyd, Co-Founder of SANVT / Timeless Menswear

SANVT is not conventional. Their mission is to develop a collection of high-quality clothing essentials. When designing products, they remove everything that doesn’t add value and invest in what does. They offer true luxury essentials, priced below standard retail pricing. They don’t charge high mark-ups because they simply don’t have to. Unlike most high-end brands, SANVT are committed to offering the very best quality at the very best prices. They have cut out the middlemen, kept their distrib...

Aug 17, 202025 minEp. 78

Tonya Kidd-Beggs, Founder of STORIES Parfums / Bespoke Fragrance

A fragrance range that weaves a narrative from mislaid memories, childhood dreams and long-forgotten hope; STORIES Parfums is a pilgrimage for the senses. Creative Director & Founder of the perfume house, Tonya Kidd-Beggs, curated each blend personally as a testament to the power of fragrance in her own life. Grasse, on the French Riviera, has a long-established fragrance history dating back to the 17th century. It was here that Tonya developed her first two perfumes, STORIES Nº. 01 and STOR...

Aug 13, 202035 minEp. 77

Jason West, Founder of LUSSO Footwear / Sneakers

Jason West started his first online business aged 15, and he’s since gone on to pursue and engage in a list of projects, some of which have succeeded, and others which have failed. Taking the lessons learned from these early ventures - along with a finance degree - he's now turned his focus to an eCommerce business aimed at the limited edition and luxury trainer industry. LUSSO was founded in 2018 and the business aspires to become a success story in the secondary sale market for limited edition...

Aug 10, 202044 minEp. 76

Nick Hussey, Founder of FRAHM / British Outerwear

Based in Bath, Somerset, FRAHM was created by two best friends - Jason Tripp and Nick Hussey. They make a maximum of 100 high-end men's jackets of each style once a year, selling on pre-order due to their scarcity. They feel jackets from the big brands don't do what they're supposed to. If they're technical, they look awful; but if they're stylish, they don't work properly or last long enough. FRAHM is a men's brand that's a bit more thoughtful and kinder. The brand is officially 'In Aid Of' Min...

Aug 04, 202030 minEp. 75

David Almond, Founder of Snide London / Designer Clothing

Snide (Snide London) is aimed at customers who care about how they look, enjoy spending money on superior brands, and yet are keen to let the world know they don't take themselves too seriously. They are sophisticated but have a sense of humour and a sense of irony. The brand is a parody of fake items from the Far East. Snide is the slang for a fake in London and they are also sometimes called Jekyls​ (Jekyls and Hydes = Snides). Their tag line is 'Never Knowingly Right' and the designs all feat...

Jul 29, 202025 minEp. 74

Steve Bryant, Founder of The Devout / Clothing Rental

The Devout is a new clothing experience for the UK whereby they present a unique monthly subscription service offering designer brands and vintage pieces. They’re the fashion rental revolution, reducing the volume of clothes going to landfill, providing the latest brands and current-season pieces without the impact, and helping you save money on your clothes. Customers can rent 5 pieces of their choice for just £79 a month. With premium brands available for both men and women, they deliver your ...

Jul 21, 202026 minEp. 73

James Cowdale, Head of Brand at &SONS / Timeless Clothing Staples

&SONS clothing, founded by Phil James , is the brainchild of a group of like-minded craftspeople who make their living from taking and shaping superb visual imagery. That close attention to detail and style has now been applied to clothing. The brand is proud to support innovation while valuing the skills of artisans where hard-won expertise is passed on from one generation to the next. That’s why they take such care over the design and manufacture of their clothing, using only the finest na...

Jul 08, 202029 minEp. 72

Edward Temperley, Co-Founder of WAES Footwear / Sustainable Shoes

WAES Footwear are the world's only plastic-free shoe company. A collaboration of shoe designers, ocean advocates, surfers, scientists, and manufacturers committed to producing beautiful stylish footwear which leaves no trace. The WAES logo is derived from the alchemy symbol for earth and the name itself is an acronym of the classical elements of Water, Air, Earth and Sun which defines their manufacturing philosophy of combining science and natural materials. There are more than 24 billion pairs ...

Jul 05, 202026 minEp. 71

Alexandra Wood, Menswear Designer / Modern Tailoring

Alexandra Wood started her tailoring business in 2007 as a hobby and has since designed and made clothing for hundreds of high-profile men who want to make a positive impact to the way they look and feel. Her career started in Savile Row, as one of the first, female owned tailoring businesses. She then went on to re-open the longest standing tailors (400 years) in Bishop's Stortford, with a new, modernised version of men’s tailoring. The brand has recently expanded from made to measure tailoring...

Jul 02, 202031 minEp. 70

Henry Allan, General Manager at Hims / Personalised Treatments

Hims offers a modern approach to health and wellness. Their mission is to eliminate stigmas and make it easier for people to access care and treatment for the conditions that impact their daily lives. That starts with creating an open and honest culture of care that is accessible for everyone, no matter who you are or where you live. Since launching in November 2017, they’ve become one of the fastest growing direct-to-consumer brands in history. Taking care of yourself doesn’t need to involve a ...

Jun 30, 202029 minEp. 69

Chris Margetts, Co-Founder of Humans Are Vain / Vegan Fashion

Humans Are Vain (HAV) is a contemporary eco-sustainable slow fashion footwear, accessories and apparel brand that believes in sustainability now not tomorrow. All their products are designed and engineered in Sweden, putting sustainable materials at the forefront of the design process and bringing together all the latest advances in sustainable and recycled materials into one place. All production is carried out in ethical factories in Portugal and they use recycled materials throughout, with a ...

Jun 27, 202034 minEp. 68

Jason Kirk, Co-Founder of Kirk & Kirk / Eyewear

In 2013 Jason and Karen Kirk launched an eyewear line for individuals. A line that is boldly expressive and proudly inclusive, with shapes that break boundaries. Kirk & Kirk frames are authentic, inspirational, and confident, just like the people who wear them. Jason Kirk grew up in optics, his grandfather Sidney and his great uncle Percy founded Kirk Brothers in 1919 when they converted an old sewing machine into a lens cutter. Karen Kirk studied design in London and was working for Saatchi...

Jun 14, 202028 minEp. 67

Stefan Mathys, Co-Founder of VYN / Bespoke Renewable Sneakers

VYN is the first repairable sneaker in the world. The brand was founded by Catherine Meuter and Stefan Mathys in 2019. Their goal is to encourage the customer to re-evaluate expenditure and move away from a disposable mind-set, to one where they take care of sneakers, enjoying them for longer. Together they have designed over 40 collections for various brands in Italy, UK, and Norway. VYN came to life over a discussion about the sneaker industry being one of the most polluting in the fashion ind...

Jun 11, 202025 minEp. 66

Genevieve Sweeney, Knitwear Designer / British Designer Knitwear

Genevieve Sweeney is a premium British knitwear label that truly emphases the high level of skills and quality of knitwear manufacturing in the British Isles. The brand fuses contemporary design with innovative technical processes and embraces heritage skills found in the Scottish Borders. Made exclusively in the UK, Genevieve is writing a new chapter for the knitwear industry, marrying contemporary design with exceptional hand finishes. Indebted to the time-honoured techniques of artisan makers...

Jun 09, 202027 minEp. 65

Robert Hart, Co-Founder of Bunker Mentality / Golf Clothing

Bunker Mentality a golf brand for golfers with a love of the great game and who share a different mentality. They are inclusive rather than exclusive, pushing open the envelope whilst not compromising golf etiquette, but full on with their own style, creating a new wave of golf culture. Unlike traditional golf attire, Bunker Mentality’s clothing has a strong modern and fashion-forward spirit that can be worn from 'first tee to last orders'. Born in the UK, this family run independent company was...

Jun 05, 202036 minEp. 64

Alexander Walsh, Co-Founder of JustWears / Premium Underwear

JustWears is on a mission to reinvent men's basics using premium, sustainably sourced fabrics and ergonomic designs. Since running the most backed apparel campaign on Kickstarter in the UK, they’ve sold 40,000 pairs to 10,000 customers in 73 countries and have been featured on BBC Dragon's Den. Made from soft cellulosic fibre, MicroModal Air, all underwear is manufactured using a natural, high-performance fabric that is sustainably-sourced from Austria and feels 5x softer than cotton. It all sta...

Jun 01, 202036 minEp. 63

Simon Cotton, CEO of Johnstons of Elgin / Luxury Knitwear

With a history of working in the textiles industry and other manufacturing industries, Simon Cotton is proud to be currently heading up the most exciting company in the UK textile industry. Johnstons of Elgin partner with most of the world's top luxury fashion brands as well as produce under their own label. The company is a truly vertical producer taking raw fibre through to finished product, allowing them to achieve the very highest quality for the most discerning customers across the world. J...

May 28, 202022 minEp. 62

Kasper Brandi Petersen, Co-Founder of LABFRESH / Minimal Menswear

In 2013 Kasper Brandi Petersen quit his corporate job at the world’s largest shipping line. He went from wearing a suit and tie to sitting on cardboard boxes in an old apartment. 3 years later he had raised €3m from investors and scaled to 50 people. Today he fights fast fashion by using technology to make a new generation of life-proof minimal menswear consisting of premium cotton shirts that repel stains, odour, and wrinkles. The brand first launched on Kickstarter in 2017 and by 2020 it had c...

May 25, 202024 minEp. 61

William Green, Co-Founder of L’Estrange London / Menswear Essentials

In a world of hyper-convenience and overconsumption L’Estrange London wants to strip away complexity from your everyday, allowing you to do more with less. Their modern clothing system comprises comfortable, timeless, versatile pieces that can be worn in multiple scenarios. They make clothes to look effortlessly smart for life - whether it be a coffee, a meeting, or drinks - never overdressed, never underdressed. This menswear brand believes the future of retail exists in creating more than just...

May 23, 202040 minEp. 60

David Cullen, Founder of Unseen Footwear / Minimal Sneakers

Atterley is a fashion destination that celebrates and redefines the boutique experience with one seamlessly stylish online platform. Working in partnership with an inspiring global community of independent fashion retailers, they bring you bespoke access to a covetable mix of premium, emerging, and undiscovered labels expertly curated by some of the world’s most talented fashion buyers. Customers can shop a mix of new and established brands from around the world, from your device to your doorste...

May 20, 202036 minEp. 59

Kevin Ellis, Founder of Ellis Rugby / Rugby Shirts

Proud Yorkshireman, Kevin Ellis, spent much of his childhood playing rugby in his local field with his elder brothers. After first giving Rugby League a go he then switched codes to rugby union, enjoying several seasons with Headingley in Leeds, before signing professional. Kevin’s passion for sport, combined with a love of design and fashion, are the driving force behind rugby heritage brand Ellis Rugby . The appeal of the Ellis Rugby brand lies in the striking designs, stylish colour choices a...

May 19, 202022 minEp. 58

Sebastian Öhrn, Founder of Myrqvist / Goodyear Welted Shoes

Myrqvist wants to make Goodyear Welted shoes accessible to everyone. The brand was born after a successful Kickstarter Campaign which reached its goal after just 24 hours, before closing as the most successful Swedish Kickstarter Campaign in the fashion category 30 days later. The brand designs and produces high quality shoes in the Direct-to-Consumer market, aiming to keep prices affordable without compromising on quality. With Scandinavian minimalism at heart, Myrqvist shoes are designed in th...

May 16, 202024 minEp. 57

August Bard Bringéus, Co-Founder of ASKET / Zero Compromise Garments

ASKET is an independent online-only menswear brand founded in 2015 with the mission to slow down the fashion industry and change the way we manufacture, market, and consume clothing. Based on honest production, transparent pricing, and revolutionary sizing, they're perfecting a single, permanent collection of timeless essentials and restoring the meaningfulness of the garments men use the most. ASKET believes the world doesn’t need another fashion brand. Garments, products of delicate labour and...

May 13, 202038 minEp. 56

Oliver Spencer, Menswear Designer / British Menswear

Oliver Spencer the brand is the vision of Oliver Spencer the man. Self-taught tailor and shopkeeper, his eye is the starting point of everything they do. Frustrated by the limitations of art school and impatient to strike out alone, Oliver abandoned studenthood in favour of a stall at Portobello Market. Working that market stall ingrained his enduring love of garment and cloth — shop and shopkeeping. Having spent the previous decade creating and expanding formalwear brand Favourbrook, he wanted ...

May 06, 202031 minEp. 55

Danielle Wathes, Founder of Percy Stride / Goodyear Welt Footwear

Percy Stride is not another corporation or money-making machine, it's a family. A notable Northampton Brand, their handmade shoes are brought into life in a family run factory made up of a designer, photographer, copywriter, and friends. The brand is striving to become the best handmade English shoe brand around. After a 3-year footwear design degree at De Montfort University, Founder Danielle Wathes decided to put all the skills she had learnt to good use by starting her own footwear company, P...

Apr 30, 202038 minEp. 54

George Sullivan, Founder of The Sole Supplier / Rare Sneakers

The Sole Supplier was founded in 2013 with the aim to provide accurate trainer news and release information for the UK and European market. Their community of partners (brands and enthusiasts) provide them with new and exclusive content daily alongside a dedicated in-house team of sneaker experts. Curation and selection are key processes for The Sole Supplier. Each item on site is handpicked with insight into legacy, fashion trends, audience, and heritage considerations. Through working with ove...

Apr 23, 202023 minEp. 53

William Kennedy, Co-Founder of Sons / Hair Growth Products

When Co-Founders Will and Adrian became increasingly aware that losing their hair was a possibility it led them to look into treatment options. They didn’t feel ready for a short buzz cut but were left confused and frustrated at what else to do. Over a pint, they realised – with Adrian’s background in clinical research and Will’s in all things business – that they had the right experience to start a company that would help other men understand the facts and solutions about hair loss. Reliable an...

Apr 16, 202018 minEp. 52

Jamie Bartlett, Co-Founder of Banton Frameworks / Eyewear

Whilst studying at University in 2012, Co-Founders Lucy Ross and Jamie Bartlett found the university’s optical clinic which became an integral source of inspiration for the development for their first spectacle frames. Thanks to the kind support of technical officer Gavin Hill and head lecturer Glyn Walsh, they were gently introduced to the technical and practical aspects of optical frames. Fortunately for them, the on-site optical clinic became a hunting-ground for the mechanical workings of sp...

Apr 06, 202037 minEp. 51

David Keyte, Co-Founder of Universal Works / Contemporary Menswear

Universal Works was inspired by David Keyte’s formative years growing up in a provincial midlands town in the seventies, part of a working class family that loved to dress well; seeing his Dad and Uncles in their work-wear and also when dressing for the weekend. Next, working as a sign-writers apprentice, whilst experiencing the development of eighties sporting and music subcultures. And finally, a thirty-year span in the fashion industry. From Paul Smith to Maharishi he gained an education from...

Mar 23, 202038 minEp. 50

Paul Walker, Co-Founder of Walker Slater / Heritage Tailoring

Walker Slater opened its first store in Edinburgh offering unstructured suits, in Tweed and linen together with their rugged style of knitwear. The brand utilises local fabrics and yarns into menswear items that are soft but also have a seriousness to them that renders it suitable for formal use whilst avoiding the stiff construction of the past. Walker Slater pioneered the unstructured suit whilst at the same time following a very traditional formal range of worsted suiting. Today they have an ...

Mar 12, 202024 minEp. 49
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