INTRODUCING ONE OFTHE FRESHEST AND MOST DIVERSE BRANDS TO COME OUT OF LONDON TO DATE.

First of all, give us an overview of your career and company to date. 

Well my name Is Benj; I run and own an underground clothing company called Benjart. Benjart’s an underground brand started by scratch with no budget or set funding. To be honest I was bored of treading down the high street to pay £40 for a t-shirt that I was likely to see worn by somebody else. I first of all just intended to make clothing for myself, but afterwards it just became the brand it is today!

Tell us about your education. School, college and university? If so, what was studied?

I finished secondary school with 7 A-C’s & went on to study business at university, but it was coincidently my first year of uni when the brand was born. In the subject though our focus was on finance, marketing, and strategy. These have definitely helped me with thinking through any business decision.

Where do you get the inspiration for your pieces from?

Inspiration comes from the heart. I believe that I am a perfect example of being a product of my environment and I think that this is shown through the themes, colour schemes and ideology behind each Benjart Release.

If there’s one person you’d like to get kitted out in Benjart Clothing who would it be?

An artist right now who we believe will match the same type of thought process of the Benjart Brand will most definitely be Drake! UK wise GFrsh, but he always get’s kitted out in the latest Benjart pieces so he’s sorted!

What was it that first triggered your interest in fashion, and the belief that you could get as far as you have done so far?

Originally the brand wasn’t born from a fashion perspective but more a personal look on how I believed my clothes should be worn & perceived. The fashion factor of my brand came about through product diversification with polo shirts, zipper hoodies and varsity jackets which then enabled customers to view an actual brand, rather than a t-shirt line. Branding from scratch hasn’t been easy, especially with the global recession.

Fashion is obviously ever changing, how hard do you find it to keep on the pulse of what’s hot and what’s not?

I try not to follow what’s going on in the “fashion world” as I believe that this may restrict my ability to create self-conscious pieces. Our main aim at this moment of time is for the public to recognise and understand the brand as we always have a hidden meaning behind each release.

What do you feel is your biggest achievement to date so far?

Our biggest achievement to date was our pop up store at the NIKE 1948 in Shoreditch. The event featured 14 UK underground brands. To us it showed we’ve transformed from an unknown “t-shirt brand” to a clothing company, which people travelled from all over England to specifically come and see! That was most definitely a proud moment.

Biggest and best clothing tip you can give to someone this season?

Biggest tip for this season is to keep it simple, not too many colours! Subtle is the new loud!

Where would you like to see Benjart Clothing in 5 years time?

In five years time we wish to be key players in both the Asian and European markets. However, we do like our underground positioning so most definitely wish to grow our underground fanbase first!

Best piece of advice you could offer to anyone looking to follow in your footsteps?

Benjart was started on no budget what so ever. If you believe in something stick to it! You do not know where it can take you! Also never neglect your ideas, because if they are thought out well enough they can control your destiny!

Got sent this by Benjartarian JO from Brighton

Shouts to scorcher!