Matthew Hegarty – Remember this name, the future of British Fashion

Matthew Hegarty founded his namesake brand Hegarty to offer premium garments designed and made in London using only the finest English fabrics and trims. The label offers a wide range of women’s, unisex, and men’s pieces to celebrate the fluidity of great fashion design demonstrated in British craftsmanship and vision with a focus also on diversity, inclusivity and sustainability.

Hegarty began with two pieces, a Women’s and Men’s Peacoat. The collection has now grown to a comprehensive selection of ready-to-wear, including a Women’s Cloak cut from 100% pure virgin wool Melton, a Women’s and Men’s Single Breasted Cashmere Overcoat and a Unisex Raglan Sleeve Denim Jacket using premium English Selvedge Denim.

Committed to building a sustainable future, the team works with local and ethical manufacturers and suppliers to perfect quality-driven and time-defying creations without letting excess material go to waste. For example, the composition of their Unisex Varsity Bomber Jacket, consists of premium dark navy cashmere and wool blend with 100% real by-product leather and 100% wool cuffs, collar and waist. The buttons from the Pea Coats are made of by-product cow horn and the Biker Jacket is also a 100% real by-product leather.

Matthew graduated in Photography from London College of Fashion. During his studies, he also honed his skills in fashion design and pattern cutting, developing a distinct commitment to design. Embracing his multi-hyphenate creative background, he built his eponymous fashion brand Hegarty.

With plans to expand their collection into other ready-to-wear separates and accessories, they continue to pave the way for British brands in the post-pandemic and post-Brexit landscape.

‘I really had an urge to create something and also make it, here, in London. I had the idea to start my own brand named after my surname and I also saw it as an inclusive brand that was womenswear, unisex and menswear. There’s definitely a place for denim outerwear, tweed coats and leather jackets in everyone’s wardrobe which also makes them so exciting to design and make. Everything at Hegarty is designed and made 100% from the ground up. There is a design and manufacturing uniqueness to the whole collection which isn’t available anywhere else. It is possible to create the very best garments at a scalable price in the UK and I wish more UK-based fashion brands would do this.’ – Founder and Designer Matthew Hegarty.

Who is the most popular bearded man in the world ?

Well new data has revealed the most searched for celebrity beards, with David Beckham’s coming out on top. But searches for Jimmy Fallon’s beard have increased by 191% in the last three months.

With the male beauty and cosmetics industry growing rapidly year on year, it’s safe to say we are riding the ‘groom boom’ wave; and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down.

Whether we’re looking to celebrities for facial hair styling inspiration, or simply want to stay in the loop with the sexiest beard styles of the moment, the UK’s Google searches have spoken.

Here are the top 10 most coveted celebrity beards, according to the volume of monthly searches.

Top 10 Celebrity Beards

Celeb

Avg. Monthly Searches

david beckham beard

720

drake beard

590

george clooney beard

480

jason momoa beard

390

robert pattinson beard

320

jamie dornan beard

260

pierce brosnan beard

260

bradley cooper beard

210

ben affleck beard

170

shia labeouf beard

170

The research, carried out by men’s accessories brand, Trendhim, also highlighted that searches for Jimmy Fallon’s beard have increased by 191% in the last three months.

Style expert and co-founder of Trendhim, Mikkel Anderson, commented, “Sure, we all desire thick, high-quality, full coverage like Beckham’s when it comes to our facial hair, but unfortunately, not all beards are born equal. However, you can make the most of your facial hair by learning how to shape and trim a beard like a pro, without having to remortgage your home for a personal stylist consultation.
Using a natural beard oil is the best solution to take care of your facial hair as well as the skin underneath, creating an even base to work from. Whether you’re sporting a moustache or a full beard, mutton chops or an Abe Lincoln, regularly trimming, combing, and oiling your beard ensures it stays smooth and gorgeous. Hair is, after all… hair.”

Which UK cities are MOST and LEAST interested in being healthy?

 

A new study has found that Bristol is the UK city where the public are most interested in being or becoming healthy.  

Research conducted by fitness experts at Bulk.com analysed the cities and towns in the UK where people are most interested in becoming healthy. Using 27 search terms related to health and fitness, the study combined average monthly searches in 62 cities and large towns to reveal the monthly searches per 100,000 people in that area.   

For 61 of the 62 cities, the most searched for term was ‘gyms near me’. The anomaly was East Kilbride, where people searched for the phrase ‘calorie calculator’ slightly more. Meanwhile, the term ‘swimming pool near me’ was also heavily searched for, with it ranking as the second most searched for term in 48 of the 62 cities – including in every city ranked in the top 10.  

The 10 UK cities most interested in being healthy 

  

City

Population

Average monthly search volume

Average monthly search volume per 100k

Rank

Bristol

467,099

26,327

5,636

1

Manchester

549,853

30,932

5,625

2

Reading

173,170

9,259

5,347

3

Norwich

143,118

7,534

5,264

4

Cambridge

144,714

7,065

4,882

5

Salford

103,886

4,982

4,795

6

Newcastle upon Tyne

298,264

13,964

4,682

7

Preston

147,617

6,807

4,611

8

Birmingham

1,142,494

50,006

4,377

9

Liverpool

484,488

20,676

4,268

10

The study found that Bristol had the most searches per 100,000 people (5,636) over the last 12 months for terms related to health and fitness, making them the city most interested in being healthy in the UK.  

Bristol was closely followed by Manchester, who with 5,625 searches per 100,000 people, ranked in second. Reading, who have a far smaller population (173,170) than both Bristol and Manchester, were next on the list with 5,347 searches per 100,000.  

With 5,264 searches (per 100,000 people) for terms related to health and fitness, Norwich ranked in fourth. Norwich were closely followed by Cambridge (4,882 searches per 100,000 people), who ranked in fifth. Cambridge’s third most searched for term was found to be ‘pilates’, a result that differed from the rest of the top 10.

Salford, who have the lowest population out of any of the cities in the top 10 (103,886), were found to be the sixth city most interested in being healthy. ‘Calisthenics’ also ranked in fifth for Salford’s most searched for terms.   

Preston, who are the second least populated city in the top 10, ranked in eighth (4,377 searches per 100,000 people), whilst Birmingham, who are the most populated city in the top 10 (1,142,494), ranked in ninth.   

Liverpool completed the top ten with 4,268 monthly searches (per 100,000 people).  

Meanwhile, England’s capital, London, which is the most populated city in the UK (8,982,256), ranked in 13th. The city understandably had the biggest average monthly search volume overall (354,784), but the search volume per 100,000 people was significantly less (3,950) as a result of the population.  

The 10 UK cities least interested in being healthy 

  

City

Population

Average monthly search volume

Average monthly search volume per 100k

Rank

Dundee

148,270

2,309

1,557

53

Chelmsford

181,763

2,770

1,524

54

Carlisle

110,255

1,670

1,515

55

Doncaster

308,705

4,463

1,446

56

Winchester

127,916

1,529

1,195

57

Lancaster

142,162

1,671

1,175

58

Derry

150,756

1,589

1,054

59

Wakefield

353,802

2,603

736

60

East Kilbride

74,411

344

463

61

Newport

159,587

408

255

62

 

On the opposite end of the scale, Newport ranked at the very bottom. With an average of just 255 searches per 100,000 people, the Welsh city was found to be the area least interested in being healthy in the UK.  

Although they have the smallest population of the 10 cities least interested in being or becoming healthy, East Kilbride averaged a search volume of just 344 for terms related to health and fitness over the past 12 months.  

Wakefield, who have the biggest population (353,802) out of the bottom 10, ranked in 60th. Derry,Lancaster, Winchester, Doncaster, Carlisle, Chelmsford and Dundee made up the rest of the 10 UK cities least interested in being healthy.    

A representative from fitness experts Bulk.com commented on the findings: “Every month, there are thousands of searches for terms related to health and fitness in the UK. This research offers a fascinating insight into where those searches are predominantly coming from and ultimately highlights where in the UK people are most interested in living a healthy and active lifestyle.

Seeking a healthy lifestyle is the first step to improving not only your physical health currently and for the future, but is a great step in supporting your mental wellbeing through exercise and healthy choices.”

Tips to Help You Become the Ultimate Party Host This Summer

With a bank holiday ahead of us there’s nothing wrong with living for the weekends when your weekend plans are always on point. You know what they say… work hard, play harder.

What some people don’t realise, however, is that iconic weekend plans don’t always need to involve going out out. Why, when we can still get glammed up and enjoy immense vibes from the comfort of our own homes, avoiding expensive cocktails and busy bars?

Summer is right around the corner, which means endless opportunities to pour ourselves a drink in the sun and let our hair down.

Hosting doesn’t have to be stressful, either. Here are our top tips to help you become the ultimate hostess.

Step one: Planning

First things first: decide the perfect date and time for your party.

You could take things up a notch by creating traditional printed party invitations with pretty patterns and fancy font, but hey, we know time is precious. Creating a WhatsApp group with all the people you want to invite is just as good.

Next up in the planning stage is setting the right theme. Decorate your house and garden wisely, pick games and activities specific to the occasion, and set a strict dress code.

For example, if you want to create luxury vibes, everyone should be encouraged to wear their most glamorous fits – think red mini dresses, sequin maxi dresses, and drape arm playsuits.

Step two: Preparations

You want to be able to enjoy yourself at your own party, which means preparation beforehand is key. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider way ahead of the occasion:

Cleaning your home – Create a cleaning checklist to guarantee no job is forgotten about. Your list should include tasks such as cleaning the light fixtures, washing all glassware (especially important if you don’t plan on giving your guests plastic cups) and mowing the grass.

Shopping for food and drink – While it’s not uncommon to advise party guests to bring their own alcohol, a good host should still have some food and drink available. In advance of the big day, hit up your local supermarket for some beers, wine, soft drinks, BBQ food, and a few ‘picky bits’.

Rearranging the home or garden – Having multiple people in your home or garden means you need to be conscious about space. Is there ample seating? Enough room to dance? A table where food and drink can go?

Customised cocktails – Guests appreciate personal touches at parties because it makes them feel special and creates a more memorable event. Consider arranging a signature cocktail for each of your friends. ‘Gin-ger Spritz’ for your redhead pal; ‘The Rum Runner’ for the friend that loves running; ‘Bourbon Baker’ for the mate that works in a bakery. You get our drift.

Music playlist – Conversations should be flowing just as much as the prosecco, but good music is still a must. Create the best playlist by knowing who your audience is (consider the age and tastes of the party attendees) and thinking about the type of atmosphere you want to create.

Playing tunes by Rhianna and Beyonce will create sassy and empowering vibes, for example, whereas Avicii and David Guetta will set an energetic and upbeat atmosphere.

Step three: Hosting

Now comes the most important part… Successfully becoming the ‘hostess with the mostest.’

Make sure you’re available to welcome each person and group as they arrive at the party; show them where to put their stuff, point out where the toilet is, and introduce them to other guests.

Things might feel a little awkward at first, especially if you’re merging multiple friendship groups, but after a few cocktails and a couple of shots, people will soon warm up.

As the atmosphere begins to build, consider kicking off any games or activities you have planned. Be careful not to be too forceful with it (some people just want to chill and enjoy the vibes!), but let guests know they’re welcome to get involved with whatever you’ve got lined up.

Treating your guests to a BBQ feast in the summer sunshine? If you can’t give the responsibility to someone else completely (avoid smoke-smelling hair at all costs), here are a few tips to ensure you (wo)man the grill like an expert while still being the best host:

Prep, prep, prep: Before the party starts, make sure you have everything you need for the BBQ in one place, including utensils, charcoal, lighter fluid, and any seasonings or sauces.

Create a designated area: Make sure the grilling will be taking place away from other party activities. Not only is this safer for you and your guests, but it’ll also ensure you don’t get distracted and leave the sausages sizzling for too long.

Ask for help: Don’t be afraid to dish out tasks to guests or family members. For example, one friend could help with prepping the food, while another could assist with serving. Teamwork makes the BBQ work.

Cook in batches: If you have a lot of food to cook, consider cooking in batches to free up some time to socialise and enjoy yourself.

The most important step: Have fun!

Being a good host doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your own fun and memories. Sure, it can feel a little stressful at times, and you might experience some pressure in the build-up, but it will all work out in the end.

A little bit of prep goes a long, long way. Follow our guide and there’s no reason why you can’t host an amazing party that ticks all the right boxes!

 

Images by

Artem Beliaikin

Sixteen miles out

Kimson Doan

Ethan Hu

You’ll wanna be ONYX with this one – MCM ONYX

German luxury fashion house, MCM, introduces its first-ever fragrance for men, MCM ONYX Eau de Parfum. Synonymous with the powerful gemstone, MCM ONYX inspires energy, empowerment, and strength. A futuristic woody fougère born from the fusion between luxury craftsmanship and new-tech perfumery, the scent nurtures confidence and personal convictions – inviting you to dare to make a statement!

Inspired by the brand’s iconic Stark backpack, MCM ONYX reimagined the original MCM award-winning fragrance bottle design in a modern, yet refined colorway, clad in black and dark gray Visetos paired with gunmetal accents.

The MCM ONYX scent emerges with a burst of striking fresh ginger and spices, a compelling yet individualistic accord carrying slightly earthy but smooth notes. At the core, crisply aromatic lavender arises, blurring the borders between fresh and floral, innovation and tradition. Beaming with light, ONYX’s woody notes leave a trail of incandescent warmth contrasted with an added long-lasting minerality. MCM ONYX’s vegan formula is made of over 79% biodegradable ingredients and over 89% of its ingredients are created using green chemistry principles – both key for a more sustainable fragrance future. With Top Notes of Ginger, Pink Pepper, Grapefruit. With a blend of Lavender NaturalsTogether, Basil, Violet Leaf Base for the Middle Notes together with Notes of Vetiver NaturalsTogether, Clearwood, and Tonka.