A Conversation with Blue Collar Worker

Last month marked around round of the menswear tradeshow, Jacket Required. Sadly we couldn't make the show this season - first time we'll miss it in three years - so instead we've dipped into the contacts we made last summer to check in with their progress. We came across Blue Collar Worker while trying to escape the heat of the Jacket Required's home, the Truman Brewery, and a year later we've picked up the conversation with brand Founder + Head Designer, Tim Browne.

Buckets & Spades - Tell us a bit about Blue Collar Worker, what does the brand stand for and how did you choose the name?

Tim Browne - BLUE COLLAR WORKER was established some 10 years ago as a reaction to the wave of over styled, over washed and over priced product emanating from Europe and the U.S. The concept was simple: develop a focused range of functional workwear product that appealed to us and our peers, and offer it at competitive prices.

The name came about through discussions at the concept stage, and essentially summarises what the brand is about: honest workwear inspired pieces that actually function in the workplace or the pub!

Do you take inspiration directly from the American Blue Collar Workers of the past, or is the influence more universal?

Inspiration tends to come more from a universal perspective, be it American, British, European or Japanese, with a focus on archive/ vintage products. Ideas are thrown into the pot and we strive to give the product a distinct British flavour whether it be through fit, branding, stitch details or thread colours.

Where does your love of denim come from, and what's your earliest memory of it? 

My love affair with denim really began in my mid-teens when the Ramones, Heartbreakers, Richard Hell, Sex Pistols and the Damned (to name but a few) started blipping on my radar! Even from an early age I was intrigued as to how the fabric can take on the personality of the wearer, especially in the early days when jeans were not available washed, and I guess there was an element of the perceived ‘rebel’ status of denim at the time that really appealed to me.

My earliest memory of denim stems from when I was around nine or 10 and my parents dressed me in 501s from the American PX (my father was stationed in Germany in the early 70’s). I was not happy then as flares and love and peace were all the rage, and slim jeans and Dr. Martens were definitely seen as ‘square’; looking back on it, I was probably quite a cool looking nipper!

It's hard to mention denim without the originators, Levi's. What they had an influence on what you do, and which other brands would you consider yourself a fan of?

It would be impossible to deny that LEVI have influenced pretty much everybody in the denim field (myself included) to a greater or lesser extent. As an integral part of the history of denim evolution it is pretty much a given that their back catalogue has inspired someone down the line! Brands that I respect would include Massimo Osti/ 45 RPM/ KAPITAL/ DENHAM/ Rag & Bone/ Nigel Cabourn/ Mr. Freedom/ LEWIS Leathers/ Garbstore, to name but a few.

We first met at Jacket Required last summer, and I was struck by how authentic the collection felt. Tell us a bit more about the latest collection.

Our current range for Spring Summer 2015, embraces influences from the 1930’s Cornish fishing community with striped tops and chambray shirting. We’ve also newly introduced ecru and white selvedge denim jeans to the range. These new season pieces complement our existing range of proofed cotton coats, denim over-shirts, checked work shirts and indigo jersey products.

As with previous seasons, every effort has been made to offer value added treatments in garment construction (lined pockets/ double ply threads/ extra tacks and rivets at stress points etc...)

Does the Americana influence go further than just clothing? Tell us about any of your favourite places to visit in America? Drives, restaurants, bars, shops, national parks etc.

The Americana influence goes way further than just clothing; cinema/ burgers/ hot dogs/ Johnny Cash/ rhythm & blues/ hip-hop/ The New York Dolls.....where would we be without them!? I enjoy visiting New York (SoHo) and L.A.(Melrose/ Rose Bowl) and have a lot of time for San Francisco and Chicago, although I have a morbid fear of Las Vegas. I must confess the closest I’ve been to a national park is through the National Geographic channel, which is pretty shabby!

What's next for Blue Collar Worker? Any change of direction, collaborations, exploring new markets?

Autumn Winter 2015 sees us launch the Blue Line, a new, standalone denim offer we’ve developed, which takes key character styling and trim details from our main line. The Blue Line will offer a comprehensive range of jean fits and finishes, ranging from slim through to comfort, with an expanded range of fabric bases in various indigo shades and weights.

Opening retail prices are expected to start under £60 so we believe that we have provided a more accessible and affordable quality product to complement our existing denim offer.

Find out more about Blue Collar Worker here.

Thanks for visiting,
Mat.

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