In the first episode of Thread Equity, we dive into what our brands really mean to us and how we're shaping them to stand out against the tyranny of the social media algorithms in 2024. We talk through the thinking behind each brand and why having a clear purpose is everything when you're starting out. If you're looking to launch your own clothing brand, or you aren't but want to be part of a real-time journey building something from scratch, you're in the right place. Each episode, we'll share some of the mistakes we've made and give you practical tips to help you define your brand and get people interested. -- James Shaw runs M&W Design from his base in Porto, Portugal. A consultancy that supports fashion and clothing brands across garment and packaging sourcing, M&W was born from James's experience as co-founder of menswear brand Albam. Albam was founded in 2005 and with more than 20 years of experience under his belt, James is jumping back into the menswear game launching his latest brand, Peace. For 12 years, Mark Warman ran a digital marketing agency. In his words, "The agency was unquestionably successful. I had the house, the cars, the watches and the extravagant holidays. I also had stomach ulcers, heart palpitations and panic attacks." He closed his agency and founded Barnfield Customs in January 2020. Designing menswear that's handmade in England, he launched his first jacket in May 2023 which went on to sell out in under 36 hours. James Website: https://www.mandwdesignltd.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefuturepeace Mark Website: https://www.barnfieldcustoms.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/barnfieldcustoms