Two Wirral dads who lost their jobs during the pandemic are expanding their clothing brand to new international territories.
Marlo & Cole was established in March 2021 by Ben Hatfield and Chris Rice, both aged 36, who met when they were pupils at Birkenhead School. The brand's designs are inspired by the works of music icons including David Bowie, LCD Soundsystem and Bjork.
The company has already seen success in the US through selling its products through indie band The National's own website. Now, it is expanding its international sales, starting with New Zealand and Australia, reports BusinessLive.
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Ben and Chris first embarked on careers in the entertainment industry before they were forced to rethink their lives after being made redundant at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They came up with the idea of a new, ethical babywear brand to inspire the next generation’s love of music and the creative industries, while also challenging the impact of fast fashion on communities and the environment.
Ben, who lives with his family in Willaston, said: "Marlo & Cole started out as an idea that got beautifully out of hand. We wanted to create clothing inspired by music and the arts that means something to parents so that they can share their passion with their kids."
"Rather than just putting ‘AC/DC’ on a few baby t-shirts, we wanted meaning and a story behind each carefully designed collection," adds Chris. "If you’re a music fan then you’ll spot the lyrics and references on each piece of clothing. They may not be instantly obvious but when you know the lyrics, you know.
"We also wanted to give back to the artists where we could and get their seal of approval. We contacted our favourite bands and offered them an official partnership and licensing agreement to use their lyrics on the clothing in exchange for a percentage of the sales.
"We couldn’t believe it when the first band to say yes was one of our biggest heroes, internationally acclaimed US indie band The National. The first collection sold out within minutes. We’ve just launched our second collection in the US."
The company's products are created in line with a strict eco-conscious, gender-neutral ethos, with each designed and manufactured in the UK to support illustrators and manufacturers. Chris said: "100% recyclable packaging is essential for any brand, but we wanted to take things a step further.
"Along with focusing production in the UK, we’re producing very limited runs of each design in an effort to ensure no products go to waste and end up in landfill – a common result of overproduction from fast fashion brands."
