Since 2013, one man, a box of t shirts and a dream...Slackjaw Apparel was born.
2013
Slackjaw is born of humble beginnings. One man with a passion for Americana, vintage clothing and motorcycle culture. Armed with a camera and the brands first t shirt design, Slackjaw came to life. The first design ever made was junior compared to what we offer today, but you have to start somewhere, eh?
2014
Sales to friends out of a locker at work got the ball rolling, which the brand quickly outgrew. Slackjaw naturally graduated to a stall at the world famous Camden Market. With it's gravitational pull towards punks, rockers and overall grungey vibe, we were made to feel part of the family right away. Our enthusiasm for the culture was reciprocated selling plenty of new designs each week and furthering the reach of Slackjaw.
In an effort to keep the fire burning, we hit the road to none other than Route 66. Packed full of nostalgia, oozing the American dream, we returned energised and ready to go - with a camera roll full of shots, and a head full of ideas for new designs. The next chapter of the brand began...
2015
While still a regular at Camden Market, one man and a box of t shirts continued his drea, to take over the world...
Expanding outside of markets, Slackjaw took to trade shows and conventions to reach more and more of our Slackjaw family. Tattoo shows and moto conventions became a second home to us, meeting plenty of customers and welcoming new ones into the fold, Slackjaw was welcomed with open arms into these spaces that amalgamate so many facets of our outfit.
The next natural step was to hit the web - properly. To complement our markets/trade show presence, our revamped website was born, opening the brand up to a global audience for the first time. 2015 was the year of slackjawapparel.com - and that journey has been evolving ever since.
2016
Moto, chopper and Hot Rods calling! Across the UK plenty of these shows take place all year round. With our deep love of all things that go, and go fast, we jumped in head first into these shows. Slackjaw graphic tees became a staple on the backs of atendees at these shows, year round. If we saw you there all those years back, and you picked up some tees, you may well be in posession of some of the rarest Slackjaw pieces ever made.
2017
Detail to come...
2018
With the popularity of the brand growing every month, we wanted to give our customers more! We explored our first foray into the world of cut and sew, producing what became known as out Native Road Vest. In a durable and heavyweight cotton canvas, with handy pockets, padded lining and custom woven branding - the Native Road Vest is something we still offer to this day!
2019
2019 was the biggest year on record for the brand since it began in 2013. Partnering with new logistics operators, production facilities and warehousing, we launched 50 new products - our biggest catalogue to date. This catapulted the brand into the big leagues and for the first time meant it was bigger than just a one man band! Laying the foundations for expansion was important to ensure longevity and offer more and more of the good stuff to our loyal fans while constantly bringing in new ones. It remains a pivotal year with plenty of learning along the way.
2020
Detail to come...
2021
2021 saw the introduction of our Essential Breakout T Shirt. With it's signature striped sleeves and solid colour body, it was an immediate hit. Flying off the shelves in no time, we struggled to keep it in stock! The Slackjaw Apparel Breakout T Shirt became a stand alone piece for the brand, we were by no means the first to do it, but we may well be the best at it. 290gsm 100% cotton, with ribbed cuffs and a sturdy neckline, these will truly stand the test of time and remain a staple in many of your wardrobes. Today our Breakout range has expanded from one item to 11 items, complete with graphic version as well as short sleeve and full stripe long sleeves.
2022
To keep up with the brands growth, it was time for a new home. That meant new premises, new warehouse, new shipping partners. Never an easy thing to get right, it was a tough but rewarding year for the brand - once settled in our new premises it meant we could service our global demand and welcome even more of you into the fold every week.
2023
2023 marked the first year that Slackjaw officially took on employees, assembled a team and prepared for further growth. Now a 4-man operation, the dream of one man and his box at Camden Market was slowly but surely being realised.
Mark came on board to handle all things product - with over 30 years of brand building under his belt, and a career as a professional skateboarder, Mark's connections and expertise allowed us to open new doors with manufacturerss, improving product quality to the highest standard.
Mash joined the team and handles all things financial. A background in team management and logistics made him the perfect man for the job.
Rob was the last piece of the puzzle, with a decade of marketing and ecommerce experience, and having worked with some of ther worlds biggest streetwear brands, Rob elevated our web presence and streamlined the brand's marketing processes.
Not forgetting Tom, the man who started it all, still firmly at the helm steering the ship from a creative point of view. The Slackjaw Avengers had finally assembled and were ready for world domination.
2024
Off the back of the new Slackjaw Team being assembled, we were able to broker relationships with some of the best factories in the game. Our material quality levelled up, we use only the finest cottons and the fit and finish of each Slackjaw piece is carefully scrutinized before we deem it ready to land in your hands. In 2024 we overhauled our entire production process, introduced our own cut and sew t shirt shape, invited in new collaborators to work with us on graphics and explored deeper the world of headwear and accessories.
While there were certainly some learning curves, 2024 marked the biggest year yet for the brand, and saw us reach new heights with over 30,000 of you now in the Slackjaw Family. We pivoted on our comms and made our content and brand messaging the most consistent it has ever been - improving the way we portray ourselves and making Slackjaw accessible to all.
2025
What can we say? It's been a wild ride over the last 12 years - and we ain't done yet! Watch this space for everything we have in store for 2025...