CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Arthur Beale have been equipping Voyager, wayfarers, Vagabonds and pioneers for over 500 years. They have provided ropes and chandlery equipment for Polar exploration and early Everest expedition for Ernest Shackleton, Gino Watkins and many more. Priding themselves on their passion and dedication for high quality kit for every kind of adventure.

Grace’s Guide to British Industry says that Arthur Beale was established as a rope maker called John Buckinghams circa 1500. Our Sign says “Established 400 years” but the sign is 60 years old! We have never moved from our current spot but in those days the Parish of St Giles area was surrounded by fields, possibly growing the flax we used to make our rope. The Church of St Giles in the Fields still stands across the road.

John Buckingham not only made rope and twine but sacks and mats too. The town of London gradually encroached on St Giles and the company needed more space to meet the demand so they set up other rope walks in Islington and also on the banks of the Fleet in Kentish Town.

In 1864 the Alpine Club of Great Britain being distressed by various climbing rope failures decided to set up a committee to carry out strength tests. Out of all the ropes they tested only three met their standards. All three were made by Buckingham and Sons of Broad Street, St Giles.

The Alpine Club Rope grew in popularity and was used throughout the world. It was ordered for all the early Everest Expeditions as well as by Shackleton (see image above) for his polar exploits. In fact, we also supplied Shackleton’s Ice Axes and specialist pulleys. Our archives have many letters from famous explorers together with signed order forms from Ernest Shackleton.

Moving closer to present day and since the closure of their shop following the pandemic they have managed to move from strength to strength, developing and expanding their successful clothing ranges as well as introducing a new Gin!!!! Their warehouse in Buckinghamshire allows them the space to experiment & develop new products.

Oiled wool pullovers, submariner jumpers, sailors roll necks come under many names, but they haven’t changed much through the centuries. Oiled wool pullovers have been an essential piece of kit for adventurers.  All of their pullovers are 100% British wool and made in the UK. The Knitting patterns are based on traditional pullover styles drawn from their 500 year old archive.

Autumn is in full swing and your footwear choices are vital in ensuring your feet are warm and dry, but breaking in shoes can be an uphill battle. 

Footwear expert, Julian Nelson from A Fine Pair of Shoes, who are a shoe supplier with our 20 years experience in high quality mens shoes for customers across the UK, has revealed 5 hacks to break in troublesome shoes this autumn/winter. 

1) “Wear thick socks

Wearing thick socks can help stretch out boots/shoes that are causing discomfort. Alternatively, doubling up on socks and wearing two pairs can provide a level of cushioning to help pad your feet.

2) Apply heat 

Using a hairdryer on a low heat can help make your shoes more flexible, and this can work particularly well on leather shoes. Put on socks and then put the shoes on and hold the hairdryer 4-10 inches away from the shoe, focusing on tight areas. 

3) Use ice

Put a partially filled sandwich bag of water in the tight areas of the shoe, and then put the shoe into the freezer. As the water freezes, it will expand and help stretch the shoe. 

4) Stuff them with newspaper

For loosening up tight toes, pack some newspaper tightly into your shoe and leave it for a while.

5) Invest in a shoe stretcher 

Investing in a shoe stretcher is a great way to stretch shoes to the length or width desired. There are several types so be careful when selecting the one you need. To use a shoe stretcher: 

• Spray the shoe with a shoe stretching solution to help relax the fibres
• Place the stretcher in the shoe and turn the handle so the shoe expands
• Leave for six to eight hours 
• Remove the handle and see how the shoe fits
• If it doesn’t feel comfortable, turn the handle again and repeat the process”

A range that offers healthy, nourished hair and a well-groomed beard is something no man could resist! Mayraki Professional, treatment restores the hair’s natural color without the use of dyes and pigments.

Studies have shown that nearly a quarter of the world’s population will have equal amounts of gray and natural color hair by the age of 50. We also know that people in their 30s and even in their 20s can have prematurely gray hair. Graying hair is a concern for both men and women. Thus far, hair dyeing has been the easiest, most common solution, but Mayraki Professional has created a new formula that helps restore natural hair color without harmful chemicals.

Mayraki Professional is a hair care company founded by a group of hair professionals, herbalists, and chemists. Their mission is to develop products that solve hair and scalp problems and improve hair condition without breaking the bank or damaging the environment.

Science cannot explain why our hair turns gray at a certain age. Some factors are related to genetics, stress, and lifestyle, while others involve diet and vitamin deficiency. In many cases, premature hair graying can be reversed by diet changes or increasing vitamin B12 intake or hormonal therapy, although these treatments may only be prescribed by a specialist. On the other hand, when gray hair cannot be reversed, most of us turn to the common solution of hair dyeing.

Mayraki Anti-Gray Hair Color Restoring Treatment is the long-term alternative to artificial root cover ups. Its formula incorporates the latest hair care advancements to restore gray or white hair to their original color, nourishing the hair from within. The treatment is 100 percent vegan, is free of harsh chemicals, and contains no sulfates or parabens.

This formula uses active ingredients that trigger melanin production at the bulb and help stimulate the natural pigmentation of hair during regrowth. Following its natural growth cycle, hair is then re-pigmented and restored to its natural color.

Mayraki Anti-Gray Hair Color Restoring Treatment is designed for daily use and can be applied on both dry and wet hair. With the first results visible after just three to four weeks, it is recommended the treatment be used only once or twice a week to maintain vibrant, colorful hair.

With over a decade worth of training and industry experience under her belt, Gabriella Brick has been a quintessential player in MOSS’s rebrand. AW24 is transformative for MOSS, the new shapes and textures elevate the product without losing sight of its heritage. Gabriella joined Moss (previously Moss Bros) as an intern 10 years ago. She quickly showed her passion and understanding for design and menswear buying, worked her way up from an assistant to junior, then to a senior buyer and designer,before finally being appointed Head of Design in 2023.

Gabriella is involved in styling, photography and buying fabrics, as well as designing the collections. She adds a young woman’s touch to proceedings, offering a new approach to design, retailand visual representation, resulting in both details and fabrics becoming more luxurious and elevated.

This season, the evolution of the brand and collection has been crafted with the transeasonal period in mind. Woven in autumnal textiles with knitted shirts, chunky mock-neck jumpers and moleskin tailoring. For dressed-up days, suits in soft cord and silk-flecked tweed can be worn with Italian-silk ties and suede-trimmed loafers. Get ready for all weather realities with chunky hiker shoes, showerproof outerwear and a utilitarian liner gilet worn over a T-shirt now and under coats later.

• What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe?  

A DB suit, a smart trouser and a good tee. The double breasted jacket is huge this Autumn and our corduroy version has become an iconic piece which features each season. A wide leg trousershould be in everyone’s wardrobe and in line with our rebrand. Our silhouettes and shapes for suiting and trousers are much wider and relaxed.

• What piece of style advise do you live by? 

Stay true to your own personal taste and style! Continuously evolve your wardrobe, but don’t do trends that don’t suit you. Your personal look is your own brand and you only need a few staple pieces in your wardrobe. Buy better, they will last forever.

•What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101? 

Anything skinny. I know skinny jeans are making a comeback in womenswear but I’m just not ready for that yet!

• Best piece of advise you’ve ever been given and by whom? 

My Dad. He always says, “it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice” and “never waste a crisis”, which we really lived by with Covid. 

•If you could have invented anything, what would it be? 

A duplicate, so I could be in two places at once! There’s always so much to do and such little time.

• What inspires you?

Honestly I think you can find inspiration everywhere if you’relooking for it. The other week, I took myself to Chelsea Harbour Interiors, where I found so many fabrics and prints. I noticed a store that had covered ‘cylinders’ with beautiful fabric in their windows and I thought to myself, how cool that would look in a Moss store window.  

• Who is your style icon? Why?

How could I not mention Stormzy! It was a style moment, when he took a private jet from being a best man at his friend’s wedding to performing on stage in one of our 3 piece suits!

• If you could live anywhere, where would it be & Why? 

London, I really am a London girl at heart and its where ‘home’ is for me. I think we have so much happening here creatively and culturally and sometimes we just don’t realise how lucky we are to live in this vibrant city!

• Have you ever bought a piece of clothing and regretted it? If so what & why? 

Probably when I was younger, but to be honest most pieces I buy now are investment pieces. I prefer to invest in something timeless and classic, so it never dates.

• What do you have to do after this conversation? 

I am in the process of packing up my studio and office with my team, as we are moving to a new contemporary HQ in Camden. It’s all really exciting!

• What would you like to be doing after this conversation? 

I’d like to be having delicious food at Ida in Queens Park. It is a family run, Italian restaurant with the 3rd generation now being in charge, Coincidentally, I’ve become really good friends withthem and the food is sensational! I would like to take my dog for a walk in Kenwood, but unfortunately I have a few more meetings for the day!

•  Who would do you ideal dinner guests and why? 

James Corden! As I could do a little carpool karaoke. Also, Harry Style because just look at him. (plus we share the exact same birthday!)

• If you could collaborate with one brand who would it be and why? 

Aimé Leon Dore, I just love what they are doing right now with their colours and the overall look of their AW24 collection. We are actually starting to work with Happy Paul, a wellness brand, which is all about supporting young mental health. Some of the proceeds go to the charity, YoungMinds.org. It aligns with who we are, a menswear business, with a lot of male staff. It’s important and it’s something that hopefully will start a conversation. 

Mark your calendar for Time Capsule: The Breitling Heritage Exhibition, a showcase of the most important and impressive timepieces from the Breitling’s illustrious 140-year history !!!! The exhibition, which hasbeen traveling across the globe, is now coming to the UK as part of its world tour.

Founded in 1884, Breitling has been at the forefront of watchmaking innovation for 140 years. Its legacy is one of firsts: Breitling invented the modern chronograph, equipped the first pilot’s watch with a circular slide rule, sent the first Swiss wristwatch into space, and sent the first dive chronograph underwater. It codeveloped the first automatic chronograph movement, put the first international emergency beacon in a watch, was the first to make its movements 100% COSC certified, and today is still breaking ground with innovations like the first traceable watch and an array of manufacture movements designed and assembled at the Breitling Chronometrie.

Breitling is marking its anniversary year with the celebration of “140 Years of Firsts.”

Time Capsule: The Breitling Heritage Exhibition brings together the most significant watches from Breitling’s past, highlighting those that played a pioneering role in watchmaking history and aligning them with their modern-day counterparts.

“We’ve launched Time Capsule to honor our heritage and celebrate our breakthroughs,” said Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. “Each exhibition is a captivating journey that connects our heritage with the present, allowing guests to witness the evolution and lasting spirit of our brand.”

The exhibition will begin at the Breitling Townhouse on Regent Street, before travelling to Manchester, Westfield London, Knightsbridge, and New Bond Street, with the showcase running until Christmas.

– Regent Street – Breitling Townhouse, 198 Regent St., London W1B 5TP. 5th Nov – 11th Nov

– Trafford – Breitling Boutique, 2, The Dome, The Trafford Centre, Stretford, Manchester M17 8DF
13th Nov – 20th Nov.

– White City – Breitling Boutique, Westfield Shopping Centre, London W12 7GD. 22nd Nov – 29th Nov

– Knightsbridge – Breitling Boutique, 57 Brompton Rd, London SW3 1DP. 2nd Dec – 9th Dec

– New Bond Street – Breitling Boutique, 130, NEW, Bond St, London WIS 2TA. 10th Dec – 19th Dec

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXHIBITION

– Gaston Breitling’s mono-pusher (1915): This pioneering design was the first to separate the chronograph functions from the crown, marking a significant innovation.

– Willy Breitling’s Populaires (1937): Inspired by the Kodak Brownie camera, this line made chronographs accessible to a wider audience by mass-producing them at an approachable price.

– Cocktail watches (1940s): Breitling’s elaborate women’s cocktail watches, handcrafted in gold and gemstones, showcase the brand’s historic craftsmanship and inspire its modern women’s lines.

– The first smartwatch (1942): Breitling’s Chronomat, originally meaning “Chronograph for Mathematicians,” was the first watch equipped with a circular slide rule. It acted as an analog calculator, setting the stage for future innovations like the Navitimer.

The Navitimer (1952): This revolutionary pilot’s watch developed in 1952 featured a circular slide rule that turned it into the world’s first wrist-worn flight computer. Adopted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Navitimer became an iconic timepiece for aviators and style icons alike.

– The Cosmonaute (1962): A Navitimer with a 24-hour display, requested by astronaut Scott Carpenter to distinguish day from night in space. It became the first Swiss wristwatch in space, leading to its popular appeal back on Earth.

– The Chrono-Matic (1969): The result of a top-secret consortium with Heuer Leonidas, Hamilton Buren, and Dubois-Depraz, this movement was the first to market that combined a chronograph with an automatic caliber.

– The Emergency (1995): This was the first watch to contain a miniature international distress beacon, which helps locate and rescue people in danger and potentially save their lives.

Time Capsule offers a walk-in experience open to all, showcased in vintage-inspired steamer-trunk displays tailored to each boutique. Guests can explore the watches and delve deeper into Breitling’s history by scanning QR codes for information about each timepiece. For those seeking a more in-depth experience, scheduling an appointment is recommended.

Alongside this milestone, a new exhibition offers a chance to see these trailblazing pieces firsthand. For dedicated fans, the brand’s rich history is also captured in Breitling: 140 Years in 140 Stories, a special anniversary book published by Rizzoli.