Glasgow-based brand G69 Clothing relaunches with new collection

G69 Clothing, from designer Mark Bradley, was founded in 2014 but last released a collection in 2018 after Mark was diagnosed with colitis and had to leave the label "on the back burner".

Now the menswear label, whose name is inspired by the Baillieston postcode where Mark is from, has been relaunched at an event at the Radisson Red yesterday evening.

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Speaking about the new collection, Mark, 36, said: "It’s contemporary streetwear, menswear, t-shirts and that kind of stuff, but for this collection, we’ve moved into outerwear, jackets and accessories.

"We’re looking at bags which won’t be there for the relaunch unfortunately, but I’m just trying to open it up to everything.

"I’m speaking to Glasgow manufacturers to focus on bespoke, individual designs and that kind of thing, so I’m hoping something can come of that."

Mark, who currently works as a construction site manager, started the brand after studying for an HND in Fashion Design and Manufacture at Glasgow Clyde College in Cardonald and was "making waves" before he had to shelve the business to focus on his health.

Mark explained: "I did various things like pop-up shops at The Fort, Princes Square, and Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh and fashion shows.

"One of the biggest things that happened was we did a photo shoot for an outerwear range and one of the images was picked up by Italian Vogue, so it was making waves.

"But while I was building it up, I ended up getting diagnosed with colitis, which is why I put it to the side."

Mark was diagnosed in October 2018 and had to undergo three operations in the space of two years, including having a full colectomy and having a stoma bag fitted.

He said: "I tried to persevere and get on with it, but it was too much.

"Over a period of two years, I had three operations, so I was really unwell with it.

"The first operation was basically a life-saving operation.

"I’d gone from being fit and healthy and 11/ 12 stone down to eight within 10 weeks.

"I had to give up work and the label was left on the back burner.

"But between getting through that and then the pandemic hitting, it wasn’t the best time to pick it back up again."

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Now, after more than four years, Mark says it feels "great" to be launching the new collection, after he was encouraged to restart the brand by Emma Donaldson-Tonner from marketing company The Social Edt, who he worked with for the relaunch event.

He said: "Clothing, design and the label is a passion for me, it’s not just a money-making thing or a sideline in that sense, it’s where my interests lie.

"There were times when I thought it would be too much to bring it back and relaunch it, but you persevere with things.

"One of the things we did recently was we updated the Instagram so part of that was archiving all of the old images.

"Going through all the images showed me where it started and the last time I did anything with it and how far it had come so that ignited the passion in me."

He added: "I needed the nudge to get back into it.

"I’d considered it and put it off, but I needed that wee push to do it, and once that happened I was fully invested in it."

The new collection was launched at last night's event, just over a month after Mark started creating it.  

As well as the new products, best sellers from the label and the collection with Glasgow-based artist Andy Hurst, of Hidden Hand Art, were displayed, while Duke Street barbers Urban Funk did live demos and haircuts and Praline On Me served their sweet treats.

The new collection will be sold on the G69 Clothing website, though Mark hopes to stock it in independent stores as well.

Mark said: "We’re working on the website in the background just now but following that I’d like to be able to open a shop.

"There are independent brands in Glasgow that have done that, they’ve conquered online and opened stores in the town centre or shopping centres so I don’t see why that shouldn’t be an option for myself once we’re further into things.

"I’ve also been speaking to a couple of independent shops in Glasgow and further afield.

"I believe it can go anywhere."

You can find out more about G69 Clothing HERE.