Together, we’ve designed the Weatherford Jacket, bringing together a shared love of adventure, craftsmanship and timeless style. Made from 100% brushed cotton, it’s the perfect staple to throw on for any adventure.
We caught up with Ed to talk inspiration, the art of creating something together and where his love of fashion was born.
Why is the Painter’s Jacket, in your opinion, such a British staple and what makes it enduring?
Personally, I think the reason why I love the Painter’s Jacket, or a similar style of workwear jacket, is that there is obviously a timeless quality to it. Something that we do very well in Britain is the manufacturing of things - whether that be clothes, whether that be art, whether that be engineering… whatever that may be, we have a rich history of creating and creating things that are adopted across the nation, no matter your background.
There is something about this style of jacket that breaks stereotypes. I think you can be anyone from anywhere wearing a jacket like this. It just fits in a certain way that you know it can be incredibly malleable to any circumstance or event or occasion, and it is something you’ll keep and rewear for a long time.
What was the starting point of creating the jacket?
There was almost a synchronicity. For quite a few years I have wanted to design some sort of jacket. Something that is very British yet also universally global. It has that ability to be utilised worldwide for a plethora of reasons - that was the kernel.
There has been a fledgling relationship that has developed over the last year with Oliver at Love Brand, through lots of creative conversations. It’s got to this point where, as a brand, they wanted to go beyond their regular collections that they are best known for, and maybe push outside of their comfort zone.
Whilst it is a whole new venture to me, I have always been incredibly passionate about clothes and menswear in particular, with the textiles business being in the family, and I also wanted to push outside of my comfort zone and actively explore this world. It’s been fascinating for me, and it has left me wanting to do so much more in this world! I’m really grateful to Love Brand for bringing me in and allowing that open-hearted collaboration. To already have such an established brand, yet to allow me into their playground to come in and go “what about this thought” or “what about tweaking this here or lifting this there” has been quite humbling. I have felt very welcomed, and my ideas have always been supported, which is a lovely thing to be a part of.
What were the non-negotiable details you wanted to include?
The non-negotiables were the fit and the structure of that fit. I wanted something fairly tailored. To create that structure meant honing in on the alignment of where the buttons were, the extra stitching on the jacket, the placement of the collar, the length of the slit in the sleeve, the strip around the back of the jacket.
All of these little things to make this jacket much more pronounced, elevated, and punchier than other jackets we’ve seen. I felt it needed to be smart, simple and understated, but in a way that you recognise there is something interesting about it - something unique.
I certainly wanted something that could be worn throughout most of the year. You might not get away with wearing it in December in Britain, but there should certainly be a durability to the fabric so that it is something you could easily wear from early spring all the way through to late autumn. We’ve tried to pick a slightly heavier cotton where possible.
I have also personally paired a lot of these jackets with shorts and trainers, which is a completely different vibe. Whatever we were creating had to be versatile. If someone is going to invest in this piece, it should be an item that lasts and can be used.
It had to feel like something that had life and had stories to tell. I think with my own versions, I look to my son and think one day he’ll have them and be like, “Oh, I remember Dad having this jacket,” and then he’s got it himself. That’s the life I want these jackets to have. I like this idea that what we’ve created can be handed down to generations. I feel like it should be a generational jacket.
Why did you choose these three colours?
When it came to colour selection, we reviewed a number of options and took on board many considerations.
We were very passionate about the Milk because it was so different - there is something about it that is summery, bright, vibrant.
The Terra green colour felt earthy, and it felt quite British. I feel that that green may be reminiscent of Jaguars and Aston Martins, something about that. Or even reminiscent of certain parts of the country. You look at beautiful places where great manufacturing is taking place near the Peak District, for example. There is something very British about that colour, especially as you come into that autumnal time of year or even early spring.
So much of my wardrobe since I was a kid has been blue in some form, so having that Navy is classic. It's a timeless staple. You’re never going to go out of fashion with that colour. The Navy allows people who aren’t used to this sort of jacket a way of dipping their toe in before exploring further. A nice classic navy colour you can wear to work, you can wear at home, you can wear for a dinner, you can wear to a sporting event - so many occasions…
How do you like to style your jacket?
If I’m wearing the Milk, quite a lot of the time, that is spring and summer for me, I lean towards pairing it with jeans or shorts, and trainers. Quite often with a white or cream T-shirt underneath.
If I’m wearing the Terra, at a slightly different time of year, sometimes I’d pair it with a black trouser or a black jean and maybe a lightweight desert boot, possibly a loafer, or still maybe a trainer.
If I’m in the Navy, there are still multiple options, be it with jeans or with trousers. With all of them, I often like to have a classic simple T-shirt, but also, if it’s autumn or winter, I might wear a light cashmere jumper - a grey, black or navy cashmere jumper underneath one of these jackets. You could also try them with a nice polo button-down as well. There are so many different ways. And always a good pair of sunglasses, of course!
Why Love Brand?
Love Brand have got great ethics; they’re a family-led team, and there’s a real laid-back approach which ties in beautifully with all the work they’ve done to date with beachwear and summer attire, and very much tying into a certain pace of life - a pace of life for people who have very busy lifestyles, but when they are clocking off, that is really when they are clocking off.
I like that about Love Brand. I like what they do on a charity level as well. They are well grounded, have great morals, but are open to exploring and challenging themselves.
Have you always wanted to venture into fashion?
Fashion has always been a part of my life, even from when I was a kid buying GQ from a really young age and reading other menswear supplements or magazines. I’ve always taken a keen interest in it, and I suppose I’ve always wanted to venture into fashion in some capacity.
I’ve always really been into suiting and tailoring because of my Dad and Granddad - they always took that quite seriously. Good shoes too. As a kid playing imaginary games, I have a vivid memory of being young, imagining I had my own clothes shop and putting out all my clothes on certain racks and rails and wanting it to always be neat and immaculate.
What I like about putting on certain clothes is the way that they make you feel. They can elevate my confidence; they can change how I’m feeling in that moment. That’s the fashion I want to create. I have always wanted to be involved, and I really believe this is the first step on that mission. What an amazing way to start - creating jackets! And with Love Brand no less!
The jacket was designed with adventure in mind. What’s the most memorable adventure you’ve been on?
There are so many adventures I have been on. I think travelling around South America - Peru and Colombia - with my wife was an amazing thing. The way we did it - planes, trains, automobiles - that sort of vibe many years ago.
Going free diving with mad fishermen in the Caribbean Sea, that’s got to be up there! Also, more recently exploring Mauritius with my family - snorkelling, free diving with dolphins, trying to find sperm whales and enjoying island life. I do like island life.
But then I also have amazing memories of running up mountains in Scotland with my wonderful dog, Frank, our border collie. That was equally as explorative. I’m very lucky with work, whether I’ve been filming in Morocco, China, Canada… I’ve been all over the place doing it.
I’m not very good at sitting still because I’ve been so honoured with all of these amazing work opportunities around the world, but having said that, one of the biggest adventures I’ve ever done that has been outside of the working sphere was running across the Cornish coastal path and doing 200km with my old neighbour, Tom Morrison, towards the end of Covid. Still not sitting still, but we ran through the night for 40 hours non-stop for charity. We had 25 minutes' sleep in 40 hours of running. Frank the dog actually did do some of that. That was mesmerising on that undulating Cornish coastal path. Some of the sights we saw and just being in a non-stop steady pace for hours on end was quite the adventure.
And which adventure will you take this jacket on next?
The next immediate adventure for me will be watching my kids playing sport on a nice autumnal day in Somerset in my Terra Painter’s Jacket. Having the jackets in my hand, luggage ready for an impromptu trip, maybe LA next, is never a bad thing. One thing’s for sure: with these Painter’s Jackets, I will always be prepared for any eventuality - let’s see where they’ll take me!
