02/07/2023
Oh boy, where do I even begin with the fashion sense of the characters in “Last of the Summer Wine”? These guys are the epitome of style, in their own unique way. From Compo’s tattered tweed jacket to Clegg’s flat cap, these guys know how to rock their own style. And let’s not forget about Foggy’s military-inspired khaki jacket and…
14/10/2022
We’re staying in Scotland for this week’s episode, with Dr Lynn Wilson, currently of the Centre of Circular Design. Lynn has had an incredibly long and varied career in the clothing industry, including working in vocational art and textile training in a high-security prison, helping communities in Africa build a textile business, public policy and Zero Waste Scotland. There is…
27/05/2022
In this episode, I’m visited by Tim Little, owner of traditional shoemaker Grenson. We chat about how Tim initially planned to be an accountant, took a turn into marketing, found his passion for shoes while working for Adidas, and went on to own one of the grand old names of Northamptonshire shoe making. Topics include the need for considered progress,…
20/05/2022
This week’s guest is Molly Martin, author, illustrator and mender. Molly’s book “The Art of Repair” is a wonderful combination of techniques and illustrated garment stories and real garmology material. We chat about the historical necessity of repairing garments, how wartime and rationing made it important to be able to repair what you wore, the Japanese techniques of Sashiko and…
06/05/2022
This week Janelle of White Weft in London drops by to talk about her life in the denim industry as a designer, how she is now upcycling worn out denim into new products, the joy of repairing broken jeans, how stretchy jeans and elastane are the banes of recycling denim, designing fits, how the industry is a greenwashing nightmare, oh,…
12/11/2021
This week Neil Christopher stops by for a chat. Neil is known from underground legend ARN Mercantile, as well as being a sought after chap from all manner of companies. With a career starting in an unlikely and random way and pretty much continuing in the same vein, we get into the ethics of the industry, what needs to change,…
29/10/2021
This week Mohsin Sajid stops by for a bumper session on his 20 years in the denim industry (so far), a rundown on denim history, collecting vintage sewing gear, which vintage jeans are the best, zero-waste design, how denim is slowly moving from being one of the worst polluters in the fashion industry to something a little better and how…
10/09/2021
First out in season 3 of Garmology is Richard Tyler of Men’s Accessories company Tyler & Tyler. Tyler & Tyler comes from the stable of a British family-controlled business that has been manufacturing in Birmingham since 1908. They design and make all the extra shiny finishing touches such as cufflinks, tie clips, blazer buttons and lapel pins. They also offer…
14/07/2015
Summer time and the living is easy, or so the song goes. And sartorially so I think it really is. Easy, and perhaps a little less fun? If you’re a bit like me, where you like your thick tweed and heavy denim, some stout footwear and a good scarf, dressing to keep the chill out, then Summer poses a a…
10/07/2015
An expression came to mind last week whilst preparing a new pair of rugged Red Wing boots for use, “tough as old boots”. It got me wondering where such an expression might have come from, and also whether there was any significance in the “old” part of it. Were boots stronger in previous times? I have observed that there has been…