The Great Northern Cloth: British Merino Cloth on Kickstarter

This is a very exciting project by my friend, bespoke tailor Brita Hirsch, to market a British merino cloth and I'm looking for your support to help her financially. 

The finest suiting is made from merino, a wool which is imported from Australia, New Zealand or China. Sadly British sheep in general do not produce wool fine enough for the best cloths, but Brita has found a UK source of merino to make a British cloth from British fleeces from British sheep. However, she needs funding and has launched a Kickstarter campaign through which you can support her in return for various benefits. Please see the video below and pledge support by clicking here at Kickstarter.

Book Review: The Cycling Jersey by Oliver Knight

I've collected vintage cycling jerseys for over twenty five years. An Instagram favourite of mine was (and is) ThreeBackPockets run by Oliver Knight whose superb images of old-time cycle racing and jerseys is well worth following. Some months ago Oliver contacted me to ask to photograph my collection for a book he was writing. That book, The Cycling Jersey: Craftsmanship, Speed & Style, is now published and Oliver is seeking funding on Kickstarter (link below) from today. I hope to persuade you to back him and buy a copy of this superb and important book.

Vintage cycling jerseys represent a fascinating aspect of sports clothing and menswear history. The colours and craftsmanship of cycling wear make them wonderful objects to collect and even wear (with care) whether or not you're a cyclist. The book celebrates not only their history within the context of the sport, but also their design and manufacture. 

Vintage jerseys are often works of art and craftsmanship, with embroidered lettering and vivid colours, the best examples are beautifully made - hand-stitched and robust. Oliver kindly included in the book some of my collection and my thoughts about these lovely objects. As he is self-publishing it's important that he raises his target of €18,000. I know what huge efforts he has out into this book and, given its menswear interest, I'd ask that as many readers as possible support him. Many thanks indeed. See Kickstarter.

New Globe Traveller Bags on Kickstarter: Support a Child's Education

New Globe Traveller bags are made from upcycled leather and rubber inner tubes. On each purchase, the primary school education of an underprivileged child in a developing country is supported for a year in the name of the buyer. A good range of bags of various types is available for Kickstarter pledges starting at £95. 

The excellent Weekend Holdall, which is an aircraft cabin size, has become one of my go-to bags, (image above) and can be obtained for a pledge of only £135 (RRP £180). With each bag the buyer receives details of the child whose education will be supported.

The campaign ends on 21 March, so please make a pledge soon on Kickstarter.

Sir Plus seeks Kickstarter funding for a Shop on Wheels

One of my favourite small British brands is Sir Plus. Over the past few years, Henry Hales, its founder, has kitted me out with underwear, a dressing gown and a beautiful double-breasted waistcoat for my daughter's wedding earlier this summer.

Sir Plus takes unused and surplus rolls of cloth and makes them (in the UK) into a wide variety of garments. Henry is looking for Kickstarter funding to make a shop on wheels so that he can peddle his wares around the country. He never fails to produce an amusing video, and this one tells the story. Please support Henry and go to Kickstarter to take things further. There are some nice rewards for your pledges, including having your name engraved on the van!

This is an unsponsored post.

Check Me Out on Kickstarter: British made scarves for men

Attracted by their colourful knitwear/scarf designs, I wrote about Check Me Out soon after their launch last year. They are now on Kickstarter raising crowd funding for a menswear collection. I love the colours, design, London inspiration and British manufacture. See their video below and go to Kickstarter to see what they offer in return for your support.

See my previous report on Check Me Out here.

The With Love Project on Kickstarter: British makers & crafts people

The With Love Project is launching a £9,000 campaign on Kickstarter to raise funds for the print of a book, With Love, which captures more than thirty of the UK’s traditional artists and makers, revealing their craft through outstanding photography and personal stories. 

Chris Evans of the Project told me more:

Just over two years ago we started the With Love Project. It’s our search to find people who produce things with a passion and a purpose, who truly care about what they do and what they make. We’ve traveled from the top to the bottom of the country, from the Outer Hebrides to the tip of Cornwall, and asked everyone we met the same question… why do you do what you do? 

So far we’ve met nearly 40 inspiring individuals [and have] been humbled by their openness and enthused by their work and attitude. Some days we’ve driven for ten hours to meet people; other days we’ve ventured out of the UK. Each and every journey is filled with excitement and anticipation of hearing another great story; an insight into someone’s thinking, their way of life and a chunk of knowledge and advice to hold on to. We have met traditional furniture makers at the top of their game, motorcycle manufacturers hand-building by eye, wheelwrights who can trace their family trade back to the 1300s and tailors who’ve produced suits for Pavarotti. Each one of these people has let us into their world after just a phone call or an email, understanding what we are trying to achieve and happy to share what they are producing. 

Now, with the help of GF Smith and Kickstarter, we want to create a beautiful limited edition hardback book of the people we’ve met. There aren’t many projects which include a sign writer who’s worked for the Kings of Leon and a female blacksmith artist from Wiltshire, next to a fair trade coffee roaster and a couple glass blowing their way into numerous collections and national museums. 

This promises to be a unique book of inspiring people, creating things with a passion and a purpose. To make this project a reality they have to hit their funding total; if they don’t, the book can’t be printed. To find out how you can reserve yourself a copy of the book along with some exciting rewards from the makers and producers featured in the book, visit their Kickstarter page here. 

David Hieatt of Hiut Denim Co. - one of those featured in the book

Kickstarter pledges range from £5 to £1,000, with rewards including limited edition books and prints, bespoke gifts designed especially for the project and unique experiences with the With Love interviewees.

Carreducker: Kickstarter for ready to wear summer shoe Made in England

Carreducker are well-known for their bespoke footwear, all made in England. For next summer they have developed a ready to wear shoe and are raising funds for it on Kickstarter. The range of Winkers resort shoes is designed in London and made in England. 

Carreducker Winkers resort shoe: One of the nine designs available

Here is what Carreducker say about them:

• They are Limited Edition - maximum of 500 pairs
• They are inspired by the classic espadrille
• They will retail at £199
• They are made on a well-fitting, comfortable last that we have developed specifically for this project, with plenty of room for the toes
• They are available in both full and half sizes from UK 5 - 12
• They are leather lined with a leather sole and heel
• They are made in a choice of nine beautifully tactile but robust Designers Guild fabrics. (Designers Guild is renowned for its high quality, creative and innovative designs).

Choosing fabrics for the Carreducker Winkers resort shoe

By pledging now to buy on Kickstarter (ends 13th December) prices started at £125 (now all gone) but are (at the time of writing) available from £150 or you can pledge less for other attractive rewards. See Carreducker's Kickstarter page here.

I've got a pair on order and look forward to wearing mine in a suitable exotic location next summer. See the range below.

Carreducker Winkers resort shoes available on Kickstarter. Each is named after an English seaside town

Thomas Clipper launch second successful Kickstarter campaign - traditional shaving products

Within a few days of launching their second Kickstarter campaign, Thomas Clipper, who deliver traditional shaving products to your door, have spectacularly exceeded their original financial target. 

Unfortunately I was out of London and couldn't make the Kickstarter launch party last week, but I followed developments with interest. Thomas Clipper launched last year after an initial Kickstarter campaign and quickly established themselves in a fascinating growing market as men appreciate the benefits and advantages of traditional shaving techniques.

Thomas Clipper supplied me with a superb single-bladed razor (the 'Mark K', left in image above) a few weeks ago. British-made, its weight and balance are perfect for a wet shave. Products like theirs have converted me to the benefits of traditional shaving and my multi-bladed razors were binned a month or two ago. Their shaving bowl (pictured above) exemplifies their approach; beautifully-made, its wood came from a felled horse chestnut tree planted in 1710 and recently blown down in a gale. With good quality oils, creams, soaps and colognes, shaving is becoming pleasurable again.

You can read about and support Thomas Clipper on their website and on also Kickstarter.

Shackleton Clothing: designed and made in Britain on Kickstarter

Simon Middleton started The Great British Banjo Company a couple of years ago to manufacture and sell a British-made banjo - the one instrument that Sir Ernest Shackleton didn't abandon after he evacuated his ice-bound ship to look for rescue on his Antarctic expedition of 1914-17.

Simon has now turned his attention to designing a clothing collection based on and inspired by clothing worn on the expedition, sweaters, jackets, footwear and various accessories. The clothes will be designed and made in Britain. 

This is a wonderful project and one to support. Watch the video for more information and help the project on Kickstarter.