Get to know a Manchester institution: Henri-Lloyd ‣ Diverse Daily

Born in 1963, Henri-Lloyd has been a pioneer in the sailing and exploration industry since the get-go. Founded by Henri Strzelecki in Manchester, the brand’s legacy intertwines with the historical achievements of certain sailing legends, like Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Ralph Fiennes. Despite having a big presence in the performance space, Henri-Lloyd was also there through the ‘Madchester’ days, thanks to the Gallagher brothers donning (now immortalised) apparel pieces. But that was then, and this is now.

As a new label on the size? roster, we wanted to go deeper into the Henri-Lloyd of today. Known for quality, innovation, and commitment to sustainable practices, this is a lifestyle brand worth getting to know better. We caught up with Kim, Head of Product and Supply Chain at Henri-Lloyd, to learn more. Here’s how it went…

How do you, as a Manchester-based brand, stay connected to the sailing community?

“Going back, it’s always been the case that people within the business have kept us connected. We currently have the likes of our Head of Sales and Executive Chairman, who are big sailors, but I think there’s a natural affinity that those who work here love the water, and we’re all active. We take pride in people wanting to take in sports not only on the water, but in other spaces as well.”

“We recently had some team building on the water down at Cowes, which is a big part of how we keep the team connected and engaged. I’m very beginner with what I can do on the water, but who doesn’t love that lifestyle? It definitely gets addictive.”

How do you keep the brand’s pioneering spirit alive today?

“In terms of product, we as a team absolutely love what we do when it comes to engineering designs. I think the geekiness comes through when trying to create something new and something respected in the industry. We’re constantly challenging ourselves by pushing the boundaries and following the brand’s legacy. Innovation was always deeply rooted in the brand, so it’s all about how we approach quite a traditional sport with a very modern attitude to encourage new people, new age groups and new demographics.”

How do you engage with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, is there a connection there?

“I think it’s growing. If you go back to our history, especially with our roots in Manchester in the 1990s and early 2000s, we’ve always had a connection to that youth spirit. What makes us different as a technical performance sports brand is that we have that authenticity and with it a right to play within that fashion arena. It’s an ongoing journey, really, trying to grab attention in today’s era can be a constant challenge.”

What does sustainability look like to you?

“Sustainability to us is about longevity. Ultimately, our sustainability pillar is that we build products to last and that you can repair easily if needed, the products that stay with you. That’s what sustainability really means to us. I’m so proud to have been with Henri-Lloyd for a long time now, and we often get people writing to us or coming into a store, and it’s always been the case where they’ve had their jackets for 10,15 years. We take pride in making products that stand the test of time; we’re not about chasing trends, but rather building a legacy. Our aesthetic is pretty timeless, our pieces can live in your wardrobe season after season and still be worn with a very modern approach.”

Do you have any relics from the ‘Madchester’ era in your archive?

“We do, we have a number of Gansey knitwear pieces – I think Noel Gallagher was photographed in one. We have some from our Black Label era, and we can’t forget the originals like the Consort Jacket. We have original pieces on the walls displayed around the offices.”

Would you, or have you, ever brought those back as a remake for a modern audience?

“Yeah, we’ve done a few iterations, so in Autumn ‘24 we relaunched the Gansey knit with the reflective strip, and the Viking Smock, which was one of our early pieces from back in the ‘60s – we have quite a classic version in our SS26 collection. Same for the Consort Jacket, we relaunched that in AW24 and made it more refined to wear as a softer, everyday piece.”

What’s your favourite piece from your lifestyle collection?

“It’s got to be the Viking Smock and the Consort, both really easy pieces to wear and something I do wear a lot. Something I love about the brand – historically, we’re known as a menswear brand – is how androgynous it is and how you can wear those classic menswear pieces as a female. It’s got an elegance about it that crosses over genders and age groups.”

For people who might be discovering the brand for the first time, how would you describe Henri Lloyd in your own words?

“I think it really comes back to being this timeless, authentic brand. We’ve always tried to stay true to our roots, acknowledging that we’re a sailing brand, we were born in Manchester, and we’re very proud to be strongly rooted here in the UK. We stay true to our identity, whilst looking forward to the future.”

There’s been a resurgence of heritage brands over the years. Why do you think that is?

“Looking at where the market went, like this fast fashion hysteria and the need for newness, the quality wasn’t there, and I think it revolves around the changing thought processes when it comes to sustainability, as well as the appeal of classic, beloved pieces that you know you can invest in and they will be in your wardrobe for a long time. Even the love of wearing clothing and the memories it instils in people, tying it to an association of a time, a place and a good feeling.”