R - How is it that you ended up doing what you’re doing?

FN - I worked in a men’s clothing store in east London just after graduating college. We sold incredible English shoes, American and Japanese denim, handmade eyewear etc. but I soon got a bit bored and realised selling clothes wasn’t what I wanted to do long term, I was interested in how the clothes were made. I went in search of something else, so I wandered down Savile Row, Jermyn Street and even applied to some shoemakers for an apprenticeship but I heard nothing back. Finally I tried a small shirt-maker and tailors around the corner from the shop I was working at, called Alexander Boyd/ Rayner & Sturges, they offered me an apprenticeship working both in the day to day running of the store and also learning cutting and making. I worked 10-11 hours days, six days a week but it was an invaluable learning experience for me and my first job in tailoring that led to everything else.