The summer of 2020 was a turbulent time for friends-since-childhood Mike Thomas and Michael Taylor, who work in advertising and fashion respectively.
On the one hand, the Peckham locals were excited to have just become fathers. But the Covid-19 pandemic and recent barbaric murder of George Floyd had left them uncertain about the sort of world they were bringing their children into. They decided to pool their skills and professional experience to launch a digital marketplace for Black-owned brands. In particular, those with an eye for design and a focus on producing consciously.
Two years on and Ourhood Community is a one-stop-shop for premium, Black-owned labels, including gorgeous children’s brand Petite Ganache and ethical, gender-neutral clothing label Bad Habits. Mike and Michael are running pop-ups in Brixton and Peckham, and have recently launched a retail site for those unable to shop the collection in person.
The South Londoner spoke to co-founders Mike and Michael about the inspiration behind, and ambitions for, their business…
Holly O’Mahony: Firstly, tell us a bit about yourselves. How did you meet and what were you doing prior to founding Ourhood Community?
Mike Thomas: I work in advertising by day. Having spent a number of years working agency side across a number of different media channels, I moved over to the ad sales side of things and I am now working in podcasting at Acast. Michael and I met at secondary school (which feels like 100 years ago!) and instantly became friends. The fact that we shared the same first name probably had something to do with it at that age, but genuinely we’ve always had this innate synergy, which is why it’s been a relatively easy transition into running a business together.
Michael Taylor: I’m currently the Head of Menswear Buying at Urban Outfitters Europe. I have worked in various buying roles across the last 15 years, which has given me great insight into a wide range of consumer preferences and the industry at large. As Mike said, we’ve been friends since meeting at school when we were 11. He’s been someone that I’ve looked up to forever. We’ve always had a close connection and a similar appetite to challenge the status quo.
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Holly O’Mahony: You launched Ourhood Community last summer. How has it been received so far?
Michael Taylor: The response has been overwhelmingly positive and there’s been a real feeling of encouragement from customers, creatives and other businesses. I think that in terms of timing, this is a moment where there is a growing sense of wanting to support causes with a meaning that you can relate to, and this has really spurred us on to explore what we can achieve.
Mike Thomas: The reception of Ourhood has been incredible and humbling. It’s great to know we’re on the right track with what we’re doing.
Holly O’Mahony: There are other websites that showcase exclusively black-run businesses, but what makes Ourhood Community different?
Mike Thomas: The thing that we hang our hat on is that Ourhood Community is a carefully curated edit of brands that we work closely with to ensure our values align. These brands are not only Black-owned, but also premium and conscious brands.
Michael Taylor: We’re also not just an e-commerce business, selling clothes on a website. We’re working to create a community amongst our brand partners that creates a support network for Black creatives to work together and inspire one another.
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Holly O’Mahony: You also run pop-up shops where customers can browse your collection ‘in the flesh’. When and where will readers next be able to find you?
Mike Thomas: Our next event is a pop-up at pub and cultural hub Prince of Peckham on Sunday December 4. We will be showcasing new products and new brands alongside some of our established favourites, and it will be a great opportunity to see a variety of aesthetics together in one space. In the evening, we’ll also have a DJ on hand adding some good vibes.
Holly O’Mahony: What are some of your hopes for the business over the next five years?
Michael Taylor: We’re hoping to continue our support of Black creatives and continue adding new partners to our community. It has been a pleasure to partner with cult venues like the Prince of Peckham and Brixton Studio where we’ve held events this year, and we’re looking forward to more pop-up events in these spaces as well as in new locations in the UK and abroad. Through new partnerships and collaborations, we want to showcase talent and create a belief that there is space for underrepresented groups to be seen.
https://southwarknews.co.uk/music/the-scrooge-of-peckham/
Holly O’Mahony: What’s been a highlight since you launched Ourhood Community?
Mike Thomas: Our first “Yes” moment was probably having a meeting with Wale Adeyemi MBE and explaining the idea of Ourhood, and him being super supportive and encouraging. We grew up wearing his brand B-Side, so it was a surreal and inspiring moment.
Holly O’Mahony: Have there been any hurdles along the way that you perhaps didn’t anticipate before launching the business?
Michael Taylor: We had some great advice from a close friend when we were first starting out to keep costs low. It’s a self-funded project, so we’ve had to think really carefully about which investments are worth making and which are non-essential. There are so many hidden and unexpected costs that you don’t initially consider.
Mike Thomas: With it just being the two of us at the helm, at times the workload around Ourhood can be pretty intense. So it’s been a learning curve in terms of balancing everything.
Holly O’Mahony: There’s a growing awareness around the benefits of supporting independent clothing labels and an increasing desire to do so in resistance to the environmentally toxic world of fast fashion. What are your thoughts on this?
Mike Thomas: I think everyone wins when people support independent brands. People find it much more rewarding when they discover a new brand or find a unique piece that they absolutely fall in love with, knowing the design and craftsmanship that has gone into creating a cultural artefact.
Michael Taylor: Independent clothing and lifestyle brands bring a unique and honest perspective to design. By supporting them we can support real people who are putting their life and soul into the products they create. This rewards real talent and innovation, and creates opportunities by inspiring others.
Follow @OurhoodCommunity on Instagram or visit www.ourhoodcommunity.com/ for updates and the latest products and events.
https://southwarknews.co.uk/south-londoner/did-you-know-that-peckham-was-home-to-a-new-store-for-vintage-american-sports-apparel/
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