WHERE WE COME FROM

My grandfather COLIN was the king of conversation. Born whilst the hatred and horrors of WWII were still raging, he grew up in post-war austerity Britain, where people relied on each other for mutual support with face-to-face connections. It was customary to acknowledge others as you walked down the street. You tipped your hat, exchanged news and pleasantries, whether they were a stranger or a friend. It was a time when collective community was strong, and connection was vital. To not have a yarn was considered desperately impolite and disrespectful, whilst you were also doing yourself an immense disservice because these interactions were how information and news travelled in communities and kept them connected and strong. 

Over the 8+ decades of my grandfather’s colourful life, he saw many changes. Some he embraced. Others baffled him including the societal shift away from community and the collective, towards individualism with the subsequent decline in meaningful engagement with your neighbour. But this did not deter him. Insatiably curious with a critical eye toward established hierarchies, he was constantly seeking connection, and he would look for commonality regardless of binary. In an age where there is now a loneliness epidemic and so much uncertainty and instability, in just 2 generations, we’ve largely lost the skills of how to meaningfully connect and engage with others that came so easily to our grandparents and parent’s generations. My grandfather inspired me to find ways to reconnect, which is what this brand is all about. Conversation starters, ice breakers, a way for strangers and friends alike to connect and talk. Gramps had many tricks up his sleeve to break the ice in any social situation – whether it was donning a strange, eye catching hat; tucking a peculiar titled book under his arm; or swanning in wearing a bizarre t-shirt – these props all acted as launching pads to initially connect with others using whimsy, curiosity and humour, that would open the door to develop into deeper, sincere, meaningful conversations. 

COLIN is designed to bring back FUN, bring back CONVERSATION, bring back CONNECTION, bring back COMMUNITY. Community and connection are also crucial for effective, sustained dissent, transforming individual opposition into a powerful force for social change, accountability, and the challenging of established authority. Ask me about my shirt – maybe we will find a brief but meaningful interaction. Maybe we will find a lifelong friendship. Maybe we will fall in love. Maybe we will topple an authoritarian plutocracy. 

WHERE WE WANT TO GO

I look forward to collaborations with local artists and communities, fundraising projects, size range expansion and pop-up stores. The ambition is to remain small, to concentrate on detail, design, quality, environmental impact and ensure the health, safety and financial security of our small but mighty team. My dream is that in the future, your teenager will pull a COLIN shirt out of your wardrobe and be thrilled. And, for that shirt to still be in pretty good nick, given the very full life I am sure its lead, and the stories it has to tell. 

Made for bar work, made for street fights, made for lovers, made for life.