HandCut Radio
HandCut Media
HandCut Radio explores the worlds of men’s style and luxury with industry insiders and leading brands. From inspiring craftspeople to influential designers, each episode we bring you a personal insight into what makes men’s fashion tick.
Finale: Everything we’ve learned in three years of HandCut Radio
This episode is a poignant one. Yes, believe it or not, this is the final episode of HandCut Radio. After three years and more than 50 episodes, we’re hanging up our microphones to pursue new projects.But, before we go, we wanted to respond to one frequent request that’s come up while we’ve made this podcast. A surprising number of you have been in touch to ask whether someone could possibly interview Aleks, and now they have. For this special sign-off episode we asked Paul Croughton, editor-in-
Mark Cho’s take on 2022 | #055
We could think of no better way to wrap up this season of HandCut Radio than by revisiting an old guest, Mark Cho, co-founder of The Armoury and co-owner of Drake’s. We’ve called this episode “Mark Cho’s take on 2022” because a lot of the themes we explore – the ‘casualisation’ of style, the different ways men are reinventing suiting, the danger of hype and the saturation of everyone’s attention – feel very relevant to the moment we find ourselves in. We hope you’ll agree that this is a fitting
Jason Jules on jazz, rap culture and ‘Black Ivy: A Revolt in Style’ | #054
This week we’re bending the rules of our New York style season slightly, by interviewing fellow Brit, Jason Jules. Regardless, his new book Black Ivy: A Revolt in Style is extremely pertinent to this season’s theme, given its concern with mid-century American style. Aleks and Jason explore Black Ivy in this episode, of course, but we also hear about Jason’s fascination for cultural trend-spotting, his passion for jazz music and his admiration for progressive rap culture. It’s a fascinating conve
Wythe’s Peter Middleton on working through disasters | #053
Imagine that you’re a young, 20-something clothing designer, and you’re self-funding the growth of your label. It’s going well and you’ve invested heavily in your next collection. Then, picture an overnight flash-flood, a warehouse filled with more than three feet of water, and half that collection being written off. Peter Middleton, the founder of Wythe, found himself in that very position less than a year ago.We wanted to talk to him about what the rollercoaster of building a young brand is li
Three years on with Stòffa | #052
This is the first of two ‘three years on’ episodes we’re featuring this season, with American brands that featured on HandCut Radio in the podcast’s infancy. Regular listeners will know that we’ve always admire Nicholas Ragosta and Agyesh Madan at Stòffa, and their work in building a luxury brand that’s as responsible as it is beautifully curated. In this conversation, we deep dive into how they’ve evolved the business over the course of the pandemic; introducing an impressive made-to-order e-co
Inside the universe of F.E. Castleberry | #051
This week HandCut Radio is coming to you from inside the pastel pink walls of F.E. Castleberry’s Greenwich Village atelier, as Aleks sits down with the brand’s founder, Fred Castleberry. Known for his creative, fashion-forward take on made-to-measure tailoring, and the dreamlike aesthetic of his campaigns, Fred has created a cult-brand with a razor-sharp point of view. He tells us about his grounding in design at Ralph Lauren, how he creates characters for all his campaigns, and why he sees clot
Michael Hainey on storytelling | #050
This week’s episode of our New York City special is something of a departure from our normal service, in that it’s much more about storytelling than menswear. You can blame Aleks for this; the chance to quiz Air Mail deputy editor and New York Times bestselling author Michael Hainey on on his extraordinary career was just too much to handle.So, in this conversation Aleks explores Hainey’s career, gets his take on ‘finding your voice’, and hears Hainey’s thoughts on why the best journalists write
Meet Ouigi Theodore: Brooklyn’s creative conscience | #049
Fun fact: when we decided to visit New York for this season of HandCut Radio, one name came up time and again: “you’ve gotta speak to Ouigi”, “oh, you’re headed to NYC, well then, make sure you speak to Ouigi…” So, we did.Ouigi Theodore is a pillar of the NYC style scene, and the founder of much-loved store, The Brooklyn Circus. He speaks to Aleks about his pre-menswear career as a party promoter, explains why he’s building a community-driven “100 Year Plan”, and he talks about why life is all a
Rowing Blazers’ Jack Carlson on subverting collegiate style | #048
“The clothes that we think of as elitist came from a place of fun and irreverence,” says Jack Carlson, founder of New York based indie brand, Rowing Blazers. Over the past six years, Carlson and his team have democratised the clothes most associated with stuffy Ivy League and Oxbridge sporting institutions, giving them a new lease of life. We talk about this at length this week, as Aleks explores just how Jack has built a brand that feels fresh and inclusive as opposed to elitist and stuffy. Tha
Brian Davis on Wooden Sleepers 2.0, fatherhood and how to pivot | #047
This week, Aleks meets Brian Davis, the founder of cult vintage American menswear store, Wooden Sleepers. Brian talks openly and honestly about the rollercoaster ride he experienced during the pandemic, which culminated in the closure of his beloved Red Hook store. He also talks about how life as a father has changed him, and why post-lockdowns, Wooden Sleepers 2.0 is the best its ever been. This episode has to be one of our all-time favourites, we hope you enjoy listening.---HandCut Radio is pr
Brendon Babenzien on responsibility, individuality and the problem with prep | #046
Welcome to Season Six of HandCut Radio, our New York City Special. We’re kicking off the season with a creative heavyweight we’ve wanted to meet for years: Brendon Babenzien. Aleks speaks to the co-founder of Noah and creative director of J.Crew Men’s about why he thinks Preppy Style has been hijacked, how the Noah design team create for individuals rather than trends, and why the fashion industry’s attitude of “it’s not personal” needs wholesale change. He also hints at what we can expect from
Charlie Casely-Hayford on modern craft and high-low culture | #045
This week is the final episode in our four-part mini-season with Portman Marylebone. Ending on a high, Aleks sits down with Charlie Casely-Hayford, the owner and creative director at esteemed British menswear brand, Casely-Hayford London. Fellow fashionistas will doubtless know that Charlie inherited the brand from his father, the late, great, Joe Casely Hayford OBE, who sadly passed away in 2019 and was one of the most influential British designers of his generation.Today, Charlie is continuing
Olivia Francis on the most important garment in your wardrobe | #044
This week, Aleks sits down with Olivia Francis, the founder of luxury men’s underwear and loungewear brand, Hamilton & Hare. Olivia is on a campaign to elevate men’s undies, and to get men thinking about the importance of their underwear drawer in a very different way; valuing quality, longevity and comfort every bit as highly as you would in a pair of shoes or a handmade suit.We hear about her decision to leave advertising to establish her own business, talk about the highs and lows of life
Paul Simons on working with his father, Ivy style and modernism | #043
This week Aleks sits down with Paul Simons, co-owner of the iconic Ivy League style destination, John Simons on Chiltern Street in Marylebone. In the ‘60s, John was the ‘OG’ importer and populariser of the American Ivy League look in the UK and over the past five decades or so, John Simons has built up a cult following as a preppy menswear destination.Today, Paul manages the business day-to-day, and we sat down together to hear the brand’s story from the horses’s mouth. We chat about John’s earl
Labour & Wait’s co-founders on slow growth and good design | #042
This week’s episode is the first of four produced in partnership with Portman Marylebone (@portmanmarylebone). We sit down with Rachel Wythe-Moran and Simon Watkins, the co founders of cult design store Labour & Wait.Rachel and Simon began their careers in men’s style before opening what they call ‘their ideal general store’ in 2000. We talk to them both about why they left the seasonal world of fashion to move at their own pace, what they look for in a well-designed product, and why a slow,
Jeremy Langmead on storytelling, wellness and launching Mr Porter | #041
Jeremy Langmead is arguably one of the most influential figures in British men’s lifestyle media today. He began his career working in prestigious newspapers like the Sunday Times and Evening Standard, before editing Wallpaper and Esquire magazines, and of course he was the founding editor at Mr Porter, where we are about to pick up the story.We quizzed Jeremy on just what it was like to launch the first seriously big multi-brand e-tailor, heard about some of his many challenges and learnings al
Lizzie Radcliffe on Levi's Bespoke Denim | #040
Our final conversation of Season Four is a fun one. Lizzie Radcliffe is the Head Cutter at Lot.1 – Levis’ bespoke denim service tucked away in the heart of London’s Soho.Whether you’re into bespoke craft, proper denim or luxury retail Lizzie’s story is a fascinating one; she joined Lot.1 following a bespoke tailoring apprenticeship with legend of the game Edward Sexton, and over a seven-year period, she’s taken Lot 1 from being just herself in the corner of a Levi’s store to a dedicated denim ta
Fred Nieddu: Tailor, Costumier, Creative | #039
This week, Aleks sits down with one of London’s most intriguing young tailors, Fred Nieddu. Fred is a freelance bespoke tailor, pattern cutter and head cutter at Timothy Everest, a fresh-thinking tailoring house in Shoreditch, east London.Alongside his tailoring work, Fred also takes on a lot of work for big TV and Film costume departments, including all the menswear for Netflix’s The Crown. So, he and Aleks chat through his round-about root into tailoring, the strange world of movie wardrobe de
Thom Sweeney’s co-founders talk modern tailoring | #038
Thom Whiddett and Luke Sweeney are the co-founders of Thom Sweeney, arguably Mayfair’s coolest tailor; offering bespoke and made-to-measure suiting, as well as a luxurious ready-to-wear collection that spans everything from double-breasted blazers to quilted cashmere parkas.The business is now 19-years-old, and Thom and Luke have built their brand from the ground up. In this episode, they talk Aleks through how they met and the winning formula they’ve developed over the years. As always, we hope
Kit Blake’s co-founder on the rules and why not to break them | #037
In this interview, Aleks sits down with an old friend and long-time mentor, Christopher Modoo, who’s worked in London’s West End menswear scene for over 20 years.From designing for Savile Row tailors to consulting for heritage brands, Chris has done the lot. He’s also the co-founder of ready-to-wear tailored trouser brand, Kit Blake, so the pair explore why Chris’s latest venture has made such great strides so quickly.Chris isn’t short on an opinion, so this conversation is a curious romp throug
Justin Hast: The most optimistic man in watches | #036
This week, Aleks sits down with a good friend and former colleague, watch writer and photographer, Justin Hast, who works with a number of luxury watch brands on their content and communications.Both Justin and Aleks came up through the magazine ranks together, and the pair reminisce about old times, explore how the watch industry is evolving, and try to find ground where influencers and old guard journalists can meet.Let us know what you think of the episode on Instagram by messaging @handcutra
Meet Luke Walker, the man behind L.E.J | #035
Luke Walker is a freelance menswear designer and creative, with a wealth of experience designing for both global designer brands and cult-favourite independents. He’s also embarked on the process of creating his own brand, L.E.J, which is gaining much plaudits from fashionistas just a few seasons in.L.E.J focuses on the intersection of ‘utility and luxury’ in menswear design, so Aleks quizzes Luke on just what the philosophy that underpins L.E.J is. Luke also talks Aleks through some of his earl
Why Nick and Giles English Built Bremont Watches | #034
This week, we present the first ever watch interview on HandCut Radio, with Nick and Giles English, co-founders of Bremont, a thoroughbred British watchmaker headquartered in Henley-on-Thames.The pair are natural born adventurers and horological innovators, so Aleks quizzes them on their love of flying, the vision that’s underpinned Bremont from day one, their passion for British manufacturing, and we unpick the latest buzzwords in the watch industry ‘inclusive luxury’.Don’t forget to leave us a
André Larnyoh on slouchy style, hip hop, and diversity | #033
This episode is an important one. André is an actor, writer and menswear-head who’s known for his louche, creative personal style. This week, he makes the case for slouchy style and waxes lyrical on jazz and hip-hop. He and Aleks also discuss the industry’s unfortunate lack of diversity, and André’s combined passion and honesty makes for powerful listening.Let us know what you think of the episode on Instagram by messaging @handcutradio, and if you enjoy listening please do leave us a review on
Scott Fraser Simpson on music, subculture and style | #032
Aleks sits down with an old friend and Season One alumnus, Scott Fraser Simpson, the founder of Scott Fraser Collection. The pair discuss Scott’s early obsession with the mod-scene, his compulsive need to collect and the music that influences his clothing designs. Scott also touches on the need for retailers to be responsive in fashion today, and why a made-to-order retail model works so well for him.Don’t forget to leave us a review if you enjoy the episode, and follow us on Instagram @handcutr
Jojo Elgarice talks Rag Parade | #031
To kick-off season four we visit Jojo Elgarice, founder of Rag Parade in Sheffield, an eclectic vintage menswear store known for its wide-ranging collection and careful eye.We spent the day with him a couple of weeks ago and it was one of the most enjoyable days we’ve had working on HandCut Radio this year. He’s a ball of energy; full of jokes, quips, opinions, electric ideas and he’s refreshingly straight forward to boot.We hear about his early years building Rag Parade from the ground up and e
Season Four Teaser
Aleks introduces HandCut Radio Season Four, a season dedicated to young British designers, brands and creatives. From our favourite vintage dealer to the bespoke tailors who’ve contemporised the suit, these are some of the freshest takes on menswear within the UK.The season launches on 24th October at 6am GMT. Set your watches and we'll see you then. Follow us on Instagram at @handcutradio in the meantime.
Bonus Episode: The business of bespoke, with Cad & The Dandy’s James Sleater
James Sleater is the co-founder of Cad & The Dandy, a modern British bespoke tailor with shops on Savile Row, in the City, Stockholm and New York, plus outposts in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. Cad & The Dandy's winning formula is thoroughly impressive; in a good month the brand cuts around 400 suits, more than most tailors make in a year. We chat to James about what motivated him to found the business, explore why he's fascinated by applying modern business practice to tra
Oliver Spencer on shopkeeping, brand building and sustainable thinking | #030
For the final episode in Season Three, Aleks sits down with award-winning British fashion designer, Oli Spencer, who’s two brands, Favourbrook and Oliver Spencer, are both thoroughbred menswear gems. Oli began his career selling waistcoats on Portobello Road in the ‘90s, and has grown his business to half-a-dozen London stores, a buzzing e-commerce offering, and eight drops a year on Mr Porter. He and Aleks talk about his first few years on the ladder, his approach to retail and clothing design,
Bonus Episode: Inside Thomas Mason’s extraordinary archive
In the second of our two bonus episodes created in partnership with Thomas Mason, the HandCut team explores the brand’s unique fabric archive filled with over 800 leather-bound fabric catalogues dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, and held in a temperature controlled library by the Albini Group in Italy.In addition, Aleks chats to Maurizio Colnago, Thomas Mason’s head of fabric design, about how this extraordinary archive informs Thomas Mason’s fabric collections today, and he meets with Dani
David Coggins on writing, style and finding your voice | #029
This week’s guest is a New York based journalist and author who needs little by way of introduction. The brain behind New York Times best-seller, Men and Style, David Coggins is widely recognised as an intelligent and urbane voice in high-end men’s journalism. His website, The Contender, distills his passions as a writer, covering travel, men’s style, fishing and drinking, and seldom fails to be an entertaining and intelligent read.He talks to Aleks about writing and the process of finding one’s
Bonus Episode: Thomas Mason’s approach to innovation
In the first of two dedicated bonus episodes, HandCut partners with the Albini Group in Bergamo, Italy; the shirting mill responsible for protecting and maintaining the Thomas Mason brand today, and for weaving all luxury Thomas Mason fabrics.In this episode, Aleks takes a quick walk through the mill floor and sits down with Head of Communications, Gabriele Camozzi, and Marketing Director, Tim Neckebroeck. The trio discuss Thomas Mason’s relationship with Albini, explore the brand’s heritage and
Cody Wellema wants to make you a killer hat | #028
What does it take to become a bespoke hat maker today? And what makes a man want to pursue a craft, which is pretty niche, even by the standards of this podcast? That’s what we set out to discover this week, in a sit-down with LA-based hat maker, Cody Wellema, founder of the Wellema Hat Co.Cody has more or less dedicated his life to the noble art of hat making, and his passion for his craft speaks volumes. He’s open, honest and refreshingly forthright. He chats to Aleks about his love of all thi
Berg & Berg’s modern approach to classic menswear | #027
This week, Aleks sits down with Andreas Larsson, the creative director of Scandinavian tailoring brand, Berg & Berg, which offers well-dressed men “a contemporary approach to classic style with a Nordic point of view”. We’d not met Andreas before, so we simply wanted to know what this means, and how he approaches his work as a designer and clothing creative.We caught him during Pitti Uomo in January 2020, and grabbed a quick 40 minutes between meetings to learn a little more about his route
Why classic style has to evolve with Esquire magazine’s Nick Sullivan | #026
Nick Sullivan is men’s fashion and media heavyweight. The Creative Director of US Esquire has over 25-years of experience in media and in menswear at large – he’s been a senior figure on Esquire’s editorial team for 16 years alone. He’s also one of relatively few journalists who appreciates both classic style and high fashion, and has found space for both throughout his career. His editorial shoots for Esquire are notable for the way in which he mixes global designers and small independents, and
Wisdom from Nicolas Gabard: Paris’s tailor-philosopher | #025
Very few brands out there are as special as Husbands right now. Paris’s chicest tailoring house occupies a unique position in the new community of brands taking root in the French capital. Nicolas founded his boutique in 2012, following over a decade working in law and then communications, and this move into menswear has given him a new lease of life. His approach to clothing is distinctly philosophical; he argues that ‘a suit is not just a suit’, but a tool to empower men to become the very bes
Matt Hranek is a street hustler | #024
This week, our guest needs no introduction. Matt Hranek is the founder of the William Brown Project, editor of WM Brown magazine, a creative director, photographer, author of A Man & His Watch and a self-confessed ‘street hustler’, to boot. In other words, he’s about as busy a figure in indie menswear as it gets. Aleks caught up with him a few weeks ago at Pitti Uomo, to talk about his early career in photography, his move from mainstream media to independent publishing, and to contemplate t
Mr Porter’s Style Director on the platform’s winning formula | #023
Mr Olie Arnold is a pivotal figure on Mr Porter’s editorial team – and a thoroughly nice chap, to boot. He started his career working on FHM at the height of its powers, and has worked through the media industry’s transition from print to digital with considerable experience in both channels. Today, at Mr Porter, he’s responsible for overseeing much of the platform’s key content and fashion shoots, styling celebrities, producing editorial campaigns and managing a fast-paced fashion department.Ol
Milad Abedi on photography, authenticity and Instagram culture | #022
Milad Abedi has to be one of the biggest personalities in European menswear. Young, energetic and fiercely opinionated, the Stockholm based photographer has a clearer view than most of where menswear’s at right now, thanks to his frequent travels shooting throughout Europe and beyond for a mixture of magazines and clothing brands. He took some time out to chat to Aleks about his street style photography, his own personal take on what makes for a great photo, and some of the thorny issues that cr
Ethan Newton on why personal expression is everything | #021
To kick-start Season Three, we could think of few menswear aficionados better suited than Ethan Newton, co-founder of one of Asia’s coolest indie menswear emporiums, Bryceland’s & Co. Ethan’s reputation within menswear precedes him. Together with his partner, Kenji Cheung, Ethan has created a brand with cult status to indie menswear-heads. Bryceland’s & Co’s diverse collection ranges from mid-century inspired Americana to unique strands of Southern Italian tailoring. Ethan’s passion for
HandCut Radio Season Three Teaser
Your first taste of what to expect from our forthcoming third Season. Aleks hints at some of this season’s guests and gives you in the inside track on what to expect from the next 10 weeks.The season launches on 5th February at 6am GMT. Set your watches and we’ll see you then. Follow us on Instagram at @handcutradio in the meantime.
How Mark Cho makes decisions | #020
Mark Cho's contribution to classic menswear is among the most significant of the last decade. Nine years ago, he co-founded The Armoury, a menswear emporium with shops in New York and Hong Kong that is now a mythic destination for admirers of timeless men’s clothing. Known for its faultless service, dependable buy and meticulous approach to product development, The Armoury has become the benchmark for all other menswear retailers to aspire to.In this episode, Mark talks Aleks through some o
Greg Lellouche on Why No Man Walks Alone | #019
Like many guys with a passion for clothes, Greg Lellouche’s first choice of career wasn’t menswear. Instead, he embarked on a successful career as an investment banker, but all the while an idea was slowly forming in his mind.Looking for a change of scene, he left the corporate world in 2013 to create an online store where other men like him could come to access tailored clothes made by artisans, at a time when, pre-Mr Porter, there were almost no options to pick up classic menswear outside of e
Stòffa’s co-founders on consumer culture | #018
This week, Aleks sits down with Agyesh Madan and Nicholas Ragosta, the co-founders of New York based brand, Stòffa.Stòffa is known for creating refined made-to-measure outerwear, knitwear and trousers, offering clients the backbone of their casual wardrobe with superior attention to quality and fit. Moreover, Stoffa is a brand with a conscience, Madan and Ragosta have worked smart for the past nine years to develop a brand that produces its clothes ethically, sustainably, and to put what they ca
Patrick Grant on fast fashion, sustainable style and Community Clothing | #017
Patrick Grant is an award-winning British menswear designer and a champion of British manufacturing. In 2005, he quit a career in engineering, remortgaged his house and sold his car to buy Norton & Sons, a failing Savile Row tailoring house. He’s since transformed it into one of the Row’s most elegant and successful bespoke tailors.He went on to establish E.Tautz, a modern British sportswear brand that’s informed by its rich history of clothing innovation. Most recently, he founded Community
Paul Croughton: The editor-in-chief of Robb Report on making media for today’s man | #016
Aleks sits down with Paul Croughton, the editor-in-chief of Robb Report US, one of America’s most respected luxury lifestyle magazines. An experienced British journalist, Paul began his career in London, cutting his teeth on magazines like Heat and Arena, before he moved to The Times newspaper and finally across the pond to Robb Report.He and Aleks explore the challenges of editing a luxury magazine today, the changing role of digital media, and how Paul is contemporising the magazine for today’
Making every stitch count, Oliver Cross of Benson & Clegg | #015
Benson & Clegg is one of those undiscovered gems in British menswear. Founded in 1937, today the company is a discreet Royal Warrant holding bespoke tailor on London’s Piccadilly Arcade.The house’s Head Cutter is a warm-hearted craftsman called Oliver Cross, with one heck of a story tell. His route into bespoke tailoring is nothing if not conventional. He talks to Aleks about the 10 years it took to realise his dream, why Benson & Clegg is special, and how the brand is moving forward to
How Alice Walsh grew Alice Made This... | #014
Alice Walsh is the founder of Alice Made This, a modern accessories and jewellery brand that champions British manufacturing and precision engineering. A former industrial and product designer, Alice began her career working at Tom Dixon, before freelancing for various design studios and ultimately deciding to do her own thing.A struggle to find suitable cufflinks for her husband to wear to their wedding inspired her to start making some that were up to scratch, using British workshops, material
Atelier Saman Amel are leading a tailoring revolution | #013
The duo behind Stockholm-based tailoring Brand, Atelier Saman Amel, are two of the most down-to-earth individuals in menswear. Dag Granath and Saman Amel met as toddlers, and have been friends (and latterly business partners) ever since.Atelier Saman Amel is now nine-years-old, and during that time the pair have worked tirelessly to create a dynamic menswear brand with clothes that are neither formal, nor casual, but for those ‘in-between’ moments in a man’s life. They create clothes that make f
Gauthier Borsarello, Paris’s menswear polymath | #012
Gauthier Borsarello is a vintage collector, curator, a menswear designer and a journalist. One of the pivotal figures in Parisian menswear, he’s charming, opinionated and sure of his convictions.This week, he and Aleks talk about his various projects; from running Le VIF Vintage to launching and editing L'Etiquette magazine, the problems of ‘Insta fashion’, why menswear journalism isn’t always a good thing, and what it really means to be ‘elegant’ in the world today. This episode is fast-pa
Michael Hill on Drake’s | #011
In Season One, one brand came up as a favourite of our guests more than any other: Drake’s. Mr Michael Hill is the man responsible for this popularity. He is Drakes’ Creative Director, and it is his vision that has transformed the brand from a humble tie maker in London’s East End, to a globally recognised menswear brand with two factories and shops in London, New York and Tokyo to its name.The two discuss Drakes’ slow and steady evolution over the past 10 years, why Mike doesn’t think of Drake’
HandCut Radio Season Two Teaser
Did you miss us..?I flippin’ well hope so. Yes, it’s Aleks here, and I’m thrilled to report that HandCut Radio is back two weeks today lovely people — yes, Season Two is nigh, and we’ll be bringing you 10 more honest and open interviews with noteworthy guests from the world of independent menswear, media and if all goes to plan, we’ll even touch on the world of fine watchmaking too.From an editor’s fascinating journey through magazines, newspapers and creative agencies to helming one of America’
Gianluca Migliarotti (Pommella Napoli) | #010
To close Season One, Aleks sits down with Gianluca Migliarotti, filmmaker, petrolhead and co-founder of Pommella Napoli.A proud Neapolitan, and a creative spirit, Gianluca tells Aleks how he grew up immersed in Naples’ tailoring culture, how he fell in love with Pommella Napoli’s bespoke trousers and took the business on two years ago. He also waxes lyrical on his love of 1960s and ‘70s supercar design, where he thinks design brands make mistakes in a crowded market, and explains his passion for
Robert & Sam Emmett (Emmett London) | #009
Emmett London is a small family business with a big heart. The 27-year-old British shirtmaker is helmed by Robert Emmett with the help of his son Sam, who moved from Switzerland to the Kings Road in London to set up his business in the early ‘90s.Today, Emmett is an established maker on the British menswear scene, known for well-made modern shirts and confident designs. We talk to Robert about his move from cookery to shirtmaking, his decision to move to London — and some of the successes and mi
Henry Lloyd-Hughes (N.E. Blake) | #008
Henry Lloyd-Hughes is a British actor, known for his roles in comedy series, The Inbetweeners, period drama, Indian Summers, and the new series Killing Eve, coming soon — as well as his film and theatrical work.But, little known fact, he’s also a clothing fanatic and the founder of new British sportswear brand N.E. Blake, which he’s established to create cricket kit that is as stylish as it is functional. We discuss his long-standing passion for sport, his early days selling clothes as a jobbing
Becky French (Turnbull & Asser) | #007
Becky French is Turnbull & Asser’s Creative Director. Following an impressive career designing for the likes of Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Aquascutum, and founding her own brand, Marwood, Becky has joined Turnbull & Asser with a fresh new vision for the brand, gently contemporising this 135-year-old British shirtmaker in all the right ways.Becky talks through her vision for Turnbull, and why it’s so important for heritage brands to be more ‘open’ in today’s retail landscape. We talk abou
Jamie Ferguson (@JKF_MAN) | #006
This week, Aleks sits down with an old friend, prominent street style photographer, Jamie Ferguson, better known on Instagram as @JKF_MAN.Jamie’s been shooting menswear for five years, following a few years spent as an actor, and a few more working in fashion marketing. Today, he’s known for his compelling editorial and street style photography, shooting for a wide array of independent brands that make, in his own words, ‘interesting, wearable clothes.’He talks to Aleks about his career path, pl
David Gandy | #005
This week, HandCut Radio hosts British style icon and ambassador David Gandy.Gandy’s career is unparalleled in the fashion industry. He was talent-spotted during a televised modelling competition in 2001, and shot to global stardom as the face of Dolce & Gabbana’s iconic Light Blue campaign in 2006. Today, he’s transitioned from a world-famous model to a consultant, entrepreneur and philanthropist – making him an unorthodox figure in the fashion industry to say the least.In this episode, he
Benjamin Glyn Phillips (Drake's) | #004
This week, Aleks chats to Benjamin Glyn Phillips, Assistant Manager at Drake’s Clifford Street shop in London. Like most of Drakes’ staff, Ben is a passionate advocate for the brand, and the ideal model for Drakes’ signature look.Ben is also a refreshingly straight-forward figure within British menswear; his root into the industry was unconventional, and in the podcast he touches on his former career as a tattoo shop owner, his growing passion for clothing, and how taking up Brazilian jujitsu wa
Isabel Ettedgui (Connolly) | #003
Aleks sits down with Isabel Ettedgui, owner of Connolly England, a discreet British brand with a reputation for timeless design. It was founded in 1878 as a coach hood maker’s makers and saddler. Isabel spotted Connolly’s potential to be a successful retail brand in the 1990s, and has transformed Connolly into a modern British fashion house, synonymous with luxurious and versatile menswear.We sat down to unpack what makes Connolly unique today, how Isabel has built and rebuilt the brand over the
Tony Madsen-Sylvester & Scott Fraser Simpson | #002
In this episode, Aleks sits down to chat with two of British menswear’s most interesting personalities, Tony Madsen-Sylvester, and Scott Fraser Simpson.Tony is a writer, musician, and a content creator for modern British tailoring house, Timothy Everest. Scott is a DJ, vintage collector and the founder of Scott Fraser Collection, a brand that makes modern menswear inspired by mid-century and vintage clothing.Both are known for their eclectic personal style, and for their impressive understanding
Simon Crompton (Permanent Style) | #001
Simon Crompton needs no introduction. In classic style circles he’s a household name; the founder of renowned men’s style website, Permanent Style. Simon’s built his online following over a period of 11 years, to the point where the website is now his full time occupation; delivering authoritative advice on the work of independent brands and craftspeople, as well as in-depth style advice articles for menswear fans.In this episode, he talks about his decision to go full-time and his role as a men
HandCut Radio Teaser
There’s a new podcast coming we think you’ll like… Aleks introduces Season One of HandCut Radio and hints at some of the podcast’s debates, interviews and guests to come.Whether the power and problems of social media, the challenges of growing and protecting small businesses, or bolstering the embattled magazine market, Season One presents 10 interviews with prominent figures of the British menswear scene.We tell their stories, air their views and debate social and commercial issues that affect