DISPATCH 1

When thinking what to call the brand, I wanted something that would instantly affiliate us with London; a word that would mean something to people from the city, but spark intrigue from those further afield. As a deeply personal project, the name needed to have sentimental value. A term I picked up from my Dad and Grampa at a young age, I'd been using "clobber" to refer to my clothes and accessories for most of my life, without ever giving it significant thought. I liked the concept of pairing this gritty, informal term with a functional, versatile, sans-serif font for the brand wordmark. The duality reflected the people we wanted to serve and the products we wanted to create. Thus, CLOBBER was born.

For years, we had felt that the technicality of outdoor gear and clean aesthetics of lifestyle garments were missing from the training space. So, in September 2022, we began sketching designs and searching for a technical, eco-conscious fabric that could withstand the demands of a cross-functional training regimen. We convinced factories specialising in jacket and headwear production to work with us – and shared our designs.

The first prototypes were compositionally good, but the fabric was too stiff, causing major issues with the drape and fit. At risk of falling out of favour with the factories, we made the difficult decision to pause development until we found the right material.

Months later, we discovered a mill in Erba, Italy, not far from the Swiss border. They had been pioneering elastic threads since the 50s, supplying fabrics for national ski teams and creating the material for the NASA-designed swimsuit that caused a stir at the 2008 Olympics. There was one fabric in particular that kept pulling us back. Engineered for performance and made from 73% recycled polyamide, it reflected our respect for quality and nature. We had sample meterage sent to our factories, resumed development and waited for the next round of prototypes. When they arrived, we put them to the test in diverse training environments. The fabric complemented the way we trained, providing a breathable, comfortable layer of protection that transitioned seamlessly from indoor to outdoor environments.

We placed the fabric order and used the 12-week lead time to refine design details. We reduced the weight of the cap and altered its shape to achieve a more aerodynamic construction. We spent time with the Portuguese seamstresses to refine the collar fit and arm length of the Track Jacket in pursuit of a more sophisticated aesthetic. To minimise fabric wastage, we used off-cuts from the pattern-cutting process to print neck and care labels before sewing them into the lining.

Inspired by the hydrophobic, thermo-regulating and cryptic adaptations of the insect, we named the fabric – and the pieces centred around it – Cicada.

On Sunday 29th March 1981, 6,255 runners crossed the finish line at London's first marathon. Driven by a love for the city and the art of running, an exclusive group of runners have completed every London Marathon since, earning themselves the name 'The Ever Presents'. In three weeks, Jeff Aston, Chris Finill, William O'Connor, Michael Peace, Malcolm Speake and David Walker will toe the line for their 45th London race, alongside 55,640 others looking to face off the 26.2 mile route through the big smoke. To all of you racing, go well. We'll see you out on the course.

Chewing the fat with Glagow-born, Berlin-based runner and brand omniscient, Calum Andrews, we learned about Knees Up, a new premium running-gear stockist stroke café in Hackney. We dropped in for a coffee, flicked through the rails and had a chat with Knees Up owner, Matt, who opened the store to host his run club that had outgrown local coffee shops and pubs. If you're into technical apparel and La Marzocco coffee machines, it's worth a visit. Knees Up post about upcoming events and community runs on their IG.

If you've got London recommendations for training spaces, coffee spots, running routes or anything else worth visiting, let us know.

In the process of naming our debut collection, much time was spent researching the cicada. This article by Jason P. Dinh for Atmos opened our eyes to the insect's weird and wonderful ways, but also to the photography of Chicago-based, Lyndon French. 

"Cicadas once taught me to marvel at the wildlife beneath my feet, drawing my gaze to the ground, to the unseen and unappreciated." Continue reading here.