What’s your role at Type Two?
I’m the brand’s founder. My role is pretty wide ranging – it includes everything from product design and prototyping to supply chain management, finance and fundraising. I also drive the vision and strategy for the brand. It means juggling a lot of different things at the same time, but that’s that goes hand-in-hand with running a small business.
Why did you start Type Two?
Type Two started as an answer to a problem.
The context was 2019, and I was working in an architecture studio in central London. My days were packed. I would go from meetings at work, to evening events, to catchups with friends.
I needed clothes that supported my lifestyle; clothes that worked equally well in a gale and in a gallery. The trouble was, I couldn’t find them. Yes, I could incorporate basic sportswear, like plasticy raincoats or garish high-vis accessories into my regular wardrobe but that felt awkward. Alternatively, I could plan my day to include multiple outfit changes, or worse, I could limit my activities to match with what I wore to work.
Frustrated with these options, I began probing. Why couldn’t I find what I was looking for? Did others experience the same? What did the intersection of fashion and function look like?
A lifelong maker and never one to sit idle, I began giving shape to a solution. I researched technical fabrics and reached out to suppliers. I took stock of the nearest similar products and drilled into what was missing or just wasn’t quite right. I created concept pieces and ran design crits with friends. By the end of 2021, I had arrived at my answer:
Type Two – a lifestyle clothing brand that offers all the functionality of traditional sportswear, with the look and feel of contemporary streetwear.
Why launch the brand with the Neck Warmer?
The Neck Warmer is a surprisingly hardworking product.
It’s minimalist design and vibrant colours represent the clean, bold tone of the Type Two aesthetic. The style is also gender neutral, which is part of a deliberate move to make our clothing inclusive.
It’s not just about looks though. The Neck Warmer is also really functional. The fabric we’ve chosen is insulating, breathable, wind resistant, light-weight and soft to the touch. It’s often all you need to add an extra bit of warmth and protection from the elements.
Lots of friends and family bought Neck Warmers over the winter. The response has been overwhelmingly positive – people are wearing them both indoors and out, and more than a few have said they only take it off to sleep! It’s genuinely become a new cold weather staple.
We also put a lot of time and effort into making the Neck Warmer incredibly sustainable. The detail of how we did it is the topic of our first journal article, “How We Make Radically Low-Impact Clothing”. Definitely worth a read.
Where are you based?
I live in south-east London. Brockley, Nunhead and Forest Hill have all been home to me for the better half of a decade. And for good reason too -- I love it here. It’s got a nice mix of places to eat and drink as well as spaces to inhabit, like parks and woodlands. I’m especially a sucker for the green patches, like Sydenham Woods. It’s great to know you’ve got a place to escape to in a city full of people. That must be the Canadian in me talking. I’ve lived in the UK for 12 years now and I love it, but I do enjoy those moments of peace and privacy outdoors.
What’s next? What are you most excited for?
2022 is shaping up to be a big year for the brand. Following the launch of the Neck Warmer in December last year, we’ve now released our line of T Shirts which have been designed and made in-house in London. Again, design is really inclusive here with the shirt’s boxy fit and details such as the drop shoulder. Currently, you can order T Shirts in 3 colours and across 5 sizes but we’ve also just launched a ‘Custom Fit’ option which allows people to play with different proportions so it can be tailored to a specific body type or style preference.
In the summer, we’ll be launching a line of new products under the ‘Made in South London’ banner. Think small batch production of accessories like bar bags, shorts and vests. All products in this line will be made with upcycled materials or dead stock, so again, a real stress on sustainability and high-quality products that are designed and produced here in London.
There are a lot more plans under works but we don’t want to give everything away all at once! As ever, keep an eye on @typetwoclothing on IG to hear about our latest drops, or sign up to our mailing list below (we promise to keep it interesting).