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Sam (L) and Julian (R) run Batch LDN making affordable smart casual suits (Picture: Batch LDN) Listen to article Listen to article Your browser does not support the audio element. Best friends Julian Osborne, 31, and Sam Matanle, 30, met while studying at university, and bonded over their love of late nights. But after graduation, the pair headed to London — and swapped parties and hangovers for the corporate world. Julian got a 9 to 5 in management, while Sam Matanle became an operations manager. Then, in 2020, Sam approached his mate with an idea. He wanted to create a ‘smart-casual’ suit, without the designer price tag. Julian, who admits to having long-had a passion for fashion, loved the idea. ‘I went through all the typical teenage stages: from dressing in an emo-style with skinny red jeans and Vans; to wearing Topman buttoned-up polo shirts,’ he said. ‘Living and working in London we needed to be able to dress smart-casual, but doing so well was very difficult. The Batch LDN team work together in their flagship London store (Picture: Batch LDN) ‘Our goal was to create a product that solves the problem of what to wear when you want to look good. ‘A suit you know you’re going to get compliments on and it’s more affordable. ‘We wanted to create an outfit for all occasions.’ But, Julian admits while the pair were enthusiastic, they lacked experience. ‘I hadn’t thought about designing clothes before and we had zero experience in the fashion industry, other than retail,’ he says. ‘We had to learn everything, from where to source the fabric to how to create the samples.’ The pair scraped cash together from their own earnings, savings, and small loans from relatives, and Batch LDN was born. @batch.ldn cofounders 🤝 BFFs #boys #newscastle #batchldn #fyp Founders story Start Ups Menswear Mens fashion Mens suits Mens smart Causal Style Inspo Made in London Designed in London ♬ original sound – Ibiza Records In total, they spent £50,000 on the branding, website and product. Within just 10 months, their first collection, Batch 01, was launched in May 2022. Julian says: ‘In the run up to the first launch, we realised how big a deal it was. We were banging the drum constantly for our company and there was always the worry that if it didn’t work, we could look like mugs.’ But after that first launch, the pair realised Batch was going to look different than planned. Julian says: ‘We thought it was going to be an e-commerce business, but we didn’t sell that many suits online. ‘Then we held an event in Spitalfields and sold 70 suits over a weekend, which gave us confidence we were onto something and we could continue.’ Six months later, the company had a shop on Commercial Street, Spitalfields and they soon devised an unusual business model. Sam and Julian at the launch of their Covent Garden store (Picture: Batch LDN) In an effort to reduce wastage and keep costs down, they decided to send orders off just once a month, so customers must wait for their clothes. Julian explains: ‘We’re reinstating patience as a virtue, but if people understand from the outset, it’s not an issue. ‘People don’t mind waiting because making to order allows us to charge way less for better quality — think Savile Row at 50% of the price.’ Orders for suits are collated throughout the month and then sent off to the London-based manufacturer. The clothes then arrive with customers up to four weeks later. Buyers are kept up to date with the progress throughout. Sam (L) and Julian (R) now make accessories and other clothes (Picture: Batch LDN) This allows the brand to cut down wastage and storage costs, and offer a premium product for a more affordable price. Julian says: ‘At first it was about sustainability. We should all shop more consciously and considerately because the fashion industry brings so much wastage into the world, but it is about quality too. ‘The suits are handmade, here in London, from Italian fabrics, just for you, and people can buy them from £395.’ It’s worth noting that typically, quality suits can cost upwards of £800. Julian continues: ‘If we operated like a normal fashion brand and had to buy loads of stock, our suits would be north of £1,000 because we’d have to account for wastage, returns and storage costs.’ Three years on from launch, and working together hasn’t ruined their friendship. Julian says: ‘We are best friends. It’s a complex relationship, especially with a friend because you’re sharing everything, it’s almost like having a second girlfriend. ‘We balance each other out nicely, we have different skillsets and work well as a duo.’ The brand now sells other clothing items, such as overcoats, and accessories too. He describes the biggest high as creating an outfit which major celebrities wear. Ashley Walters wore a Batch LDN suit in London just days ago (Picture: Harry Murphy/Getty Images for Premier League) Romesh Ranganathan wore a Batch suit on his tour, while Maro Itoje, Ashley Walters, Fred Sirieux, Simon Pegg, and countless others, have all worn the clothing label. Julian puts this down to the brand’s universal appeal. He says, ‘We solve the same problem for Ashley Walters as we do Joe Bloggs. ‘People being able to see those they admire and trust in Batch LDN gives us an insane amount of credibility. ‘Batch LDN looks good on everyone. If men are receiving compliments on their clothing, it’s special and powerful.’ @batch.ldn The smart-casual code. #mens #suits #casual #fashion #fyp ♬ original sound – DjTattoodedteddybear Always positive, within 24 hours of their Spitalfields store being robbed last year, when thieves made off with £6,000 worth of product, the brand launched a viral campaign off the back of the break-in, calling out the ‘well-dressed criminals’. Now the pair have a team of seven and take pride in being good leaders.Their next dream is for their brand to break into the football world. They’re now the formalwear suppliers of Burnley FC. They’ve also recently opened their 2000sq ft flagship store in Covent Garden and are expecting to turn a profit next year. Julian says: ‘We are only three years old, it’s insane, and we try to zoom out as much as possible and celebrate the wins. ‘Often we’re guilty of focusing on what’s not working but you can’t knock what we’ve been able to achieve in the last three years and the shop in Covent Garden is the best example of that.’ Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
