BEAVER OF BOLTON and liBErtyFREEdom

eaver of Bolton is a quintessentially British range of clothing for both ladies and gents alike. Made in classic tweeds the range  has a traditional look and feel. Beautifully tailored as well as extremely practical. The clothes have a looser fit to enable a less restricted movement. Consisting of breeks, waistcoats, skirts, coats and quilts the collection is extremely popular with all ages. Beavers most popular design is the pirate jacket which is the biggest seller. Forever evolving the range is soon to be given a slightly more contemporary updated feel with the addition of new styles including gents covert coats and ladies single breasted jacket. A new tweed design is also to be added to the already extensive range.


liBErtyFREEdom is the antithesis to the crass clothes on the high street – designed, developed and Made in England. This much sought after brand has already built up a cult following – and like the clothes these libertines are seditious, exciting and at the cutting edge of BRITISH fashion. Designed for nobles, outcasts, rebels, individuals with intelligent style who can stand out and look fantastic; Sublime tailoring mixed with punk ideals, luxurious tweeds clash with sumptous brocades. The collection retains a classic look but with a contemporary and elegant feel. Uniquely cut and tailored to enrich a womens silhouette.  The range which is made in a variety of tweeds-each tweed having its own signature brocade and lining-consists of a collection of coats, jackets, skirts and trousers. The most popular styles are the military tab and the brocade military jackets which continue to sell year after year. Forever evolving new styles are constantly being added and updated. Although currently consisting of ladies wear this year sees the exciting new launch of a liberty freedom menswear range. Stately home meets urban terrace . . . . Duchess – Punk;
LOOK COOL.  KEEP WARM.  WEAR TWEED.

BEAVER OF BOLTON and liBErtyFREEdom STORY

In 1998 Nortex, a ladies and Gents clothing company, were approached by Royal Ascot with the purpose of establishing a quality lifestyle brand of clothing. I was approached to be responsible for overseeing the design and production of this country clothing range. Unfortunately Ascot decided not to pursue the idea. Advantageously it was from my experience of working with Royal Ascot that I fell into Beaver-an established country clothing brand based in Bolton

I saw huge potential in Beaver-a potential that was being wasted. The company itself was in decline and the management team did not seem to have any idea as to how to turn the company’s fortunes around. I persuaded the Managing Director to give me an opportunity to do so. I though it was imperative that the profile of Beaver had to be raised and restored once more to its former glory. Beaver had an admirable history having been established for decades. Its customer base varied from one off private clients to numerous shops around the country. With its contacts and historical background I had great faith.

I took on the role of product development and sales for the contract brands that involved premium Country Clothing brands such as Oliver Brown, Purdey and Ray Ward. The business also had clients in the USA and Japan which were not being serviced as well as they could have been. Using the skills I had acquired along the way I applied them to this family run business and set about improving the product. Then just as the business was beginning to turn around and look healthy, and the brand was being restored to its former glory, the outbreak of “foot and mouth” disease hit. This had a detrimental effect upon the business because of the plight caused to its customers. The company unfortunately was sent crashing into liquidation.

I was not willing to throw away the potential of Beaver, nor was I prepared to let the brand perish-so I bought it.  I continued to evolve Beaver and its contract brands by expanding its customer database, updating the company and improving the quality of the product. Although the company continued to grow from strength to strength I still saw more possibilities and scope for expansion to restore the company’s prestigious reputation.

With Beaver re-gaining a firm business footing I decided to revert back to designing. I realised that the time was right for me to put into practice all those years of experience-to use what I knew. It was also about this time that I saw a gap in the country market. Although the Beaver brand of clothing serviced the sporting market with its practicalities, it was lacking in design and appealed to a specific audience. I knew there was an opportunity out there to come up with something innovative and sensational that would be accessible to everyone, exactly as it should be. The time was right for a revolutionary new collection.  This led me to produce a spin off clothing range, a collection that was a direct result of my personal influences, a collection incorporating ideals from my youth. By ripping up the rule book an exciting new clothes range emerged.

The range had the practicality of the Beaver brand but with a fashionable modern edge, and so  liBErtyFREEdom was born.   A quintessentially British inspired collection made in England but with the biggest twist of all designed by a working class Asian lad.  A collaboration of country and city/Duchess and punk that was not only sourced but produced and made in England.  A collection of investment pieces that not only mixed and matched extreme fabrics and colours but also mixed heritage with punk to result in a eccentric but wearable design. A collection of quality timeless classics that would last for eternity and with a price to reflect that.

The collection initially was to be in collaboration with the Duchess of Rutland who resided at Belvoir castle (pronounced Beaver) in Nottingham. The initial launch was set in the grounds of the castle at the 2005 CLA game fair.  The public’s perception of the range was such that it received an enthusiastic and tremendous response. Shortly afterwards the Duchess and myself parted company and the new brand was shelved for about a year or so. I then made the decision to resurrect it keeping some of the original key pieces and adding a few fresh designs. The collection again received an emphatic response

Since then liBErtyFREEdom is sold by stockists all over the country as well as via the phone and premises. . Demand for the range has risen to such an extent that liBErtyFREEdom clothing now far out-sells Beaver and continues to grow. The range is not only worn at country events but also as a fashion range. Since its birth 6 years ago the collection has gone from strength to strength. The range of fabrics all locally manufactured are entitled after areas in Manchester including Gorton, Hulme, Moss Side to name but a few.  The range is completely made in England and upon this it prides itself. It has been featured in several magazines  including Lancashire life, the Daily Mail, Birmingham Post, Sunday Mercury and Drapers record to name but a few. It is exhibited at most of the game fairs around the country and sold nation wide in countless stores as well as a handful in Europe. Every year it is showcased at the Great Northern Contemporary craft fair where it receives a phenomenal reception.

In 2010 I not only had the opportunity to hold a fashion show at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy but also to sponsor a polo team called after liBErtyFREEdom which had the good fortune to win.  The brand is also receiving a lot of interest from America. The range is forever evolving with new styles  being added to the  collection as well as new fabrics and twists and a menswear range is due to be launched in the very near future. liBErtyFREEdom  is becoming interactive with its loyal customer base via the website and a  blog is imminent.

Both the Beaver and the liBErtyFREEdom brands constantly continue to grow and develop and have even been seen worn by the likes of Madonna and Kate Middleton. Despite the success of both Beaver and liBErtyFREEdom   there is plenty of scope for development and expansion within both the brands so watch this space! Or check out the liBErtyFREEdom web site www.libertyfreedom.co.uk