Meet Brothers We Stand – Designed to please, Ethical production and Made to last

“In recent years, it’s been positive to see pre-loved given greater value. But I’m sorry to say that the consumption of new clothes in the UK is still rising. “

I met Brothers We Stand many years ago at a fashion pop-up that I worked on in London (doing the PR and marketing – it was very succesful!).

So glad to be able to share this recent chat I had this week with Jonathan Mitchell, the Brothers We Stand founder.

Jonathan: Brothers We Stand is a one-stop shop for nice menswear. Our curation is based around our core values of ‘Designed to please’, ‘Ethical production’ and ‘Made to last’. 

There’s a story behind everything we buy. Who made it? Where did the materials come from? Normally this story is hidden from our view. But that’s where our marketplace is radically different. 

On every product page, our ‘Look behind this t-shirt/trousers…’ sections invite people to explore the makers and materials behind each piece. We highlight both the positive impact and the areas that still need work. 

At its heart, Brothers We Stand exists to empower people to take a stand for the things that matter to them.

Look behind what you buy

I launched Brothers We Stand in 2013 with the goal of educating and supporting men, and anyone shopping for menswear, to consume clothing in a more socially and environmentally responsible way.

Over the past decade, conversations around these issues have shifted from niche to mainstream. Both brands and individuals are more engaged, and I believe we’ve seen real, positive behaviour change. I’m proud that Brothers We Stand has been part of that journey.

In recent years, it’s been positive to see pre-loved given greater value. But I’m sorry to say that the consumption of new clothes in the UK is still rising. That’s where Brothers We Stand comes in, helping people to adopt a ‘less and better’ approach when they shop new. 

We exist to connect shoppers with pioneering designers who genuinely care about making clothes in a conscious, considered way.

It’s a huge adventure running the business, and I’m still learning every day!

A community of brothers 

For around a year now, I’ve been working from a fantastic co-working space in King’s Cross. It’s a genuinely warm and open community. We often share lunches, and it’s been a great source of energy, especially in a season that’s brought its share of challenges with everything going on in the world.

Recognition

A while back, The Guardian described Brothers We Stand as “the home of e-commerce with a heart” when featuring one of our products in a gift guide. This kind of recognition, which we’ve had a fair bit of, has been really encouraging. 

More recently, I’ve been excited about a collaboration from NWHR, one of the brands we stock. Their latest small-run collection is in partnership with Madrid’s Museo del Prado. The TOMON HYAKKA collection draws inspiration from a beautiful set of prints originally published in Kyoto in 1891. The prints feature motifs of animals, plants, flowers, and landscapes inspired by traditional Japanese patterns.

The set of prints is named Tomon Hyakka and I really like the English translation of One Hundred Designs of Flowers or One Hundred Designs of Beautiful Things of the Capital. NWHR have done a great job of taking inspiration from the prints to make a collection that is visually very interesting and also genuinely wearable.  

Looking ahead, I want to keep working hard. Welcoming more brands to the marketplace and collaborating with people who can help shape Brothers We Stand into an even better platform. One that continues to celebrate men’s style in a way that honours people and respects the limits of our planet.

If you would like to know more about Brothers We Stand, please visit their website here: https://www.brotherswestand.com/

Follow them on social media: https://www.instagram.com/brotherswestand

And connect with Jonathan Mitchell on Linkedin.

Look behind what you buy

There’s a story behind everything we buy. Who made it? Where did the materials come from? This story is normally hidden from our view. But that’s where our marketplace is radically different. Our aim is to empower you to take a stand for the things that matter to you.