Men in PINK

From Jermyn Street in London to Ploenchit Road in Bangkok, Thomas Pink, makers of English-style heritage shirts, continues to expand, recently opening its second outlet in the Kingdom at Central Chidlom.

Established in 1984 by three Irish brothers - James, Peter and John Mullen - Pink is now part of the luxury goods group LVMH and has stores around the globe: 28 in Britain, 18 in the US, three in Europe, and 11 in other capitals, including Beijing and, most recently in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

The tailoring company's managing director Jonathan Heilbron was in town last week. A former investment banker with a penchant for punk, Heilbron says the move from capital markets to luxury clothing was too much of a challenge to resist. He talks to The Nation about the luxury shirt brand.

How would you define a Thomas Pink guy?

He can be of any age and have a wide variety of careers. But I think what draws the variety together is an appreciation of style and confidence. A Thomas Pink guy is a guy who knows what he's good at, someone who can categorise style and has a purpose. He wants to look good and feel good and knows Pink can provide him with that.

What about his personality?

Confident and bold with flair and individuality.

After such a strong background in finance, how do you like fashion business?

I've always enjoyed fashion. I remember reading my mother's magazines when I was a kid. I always liked clothes and even while I was in the financial sector, I enjoyed the creative side of the business and tried to understand what made the business work.

What do you think about the fashion business for men, especially when it focuses only on shirts?

A shirt may still be a shirt but the fabric technology changes all the time. We are constantly looking at different shapes and techniques for making our shirts, such as the cut of the side panel, which is based on the tailoring for suits. So it's always changing. We try to provide good solutions for people and aim to make them feel good in terms of design, whether it's in stripes or check, the colours or the textures.

I think people are getting bolder about what they wear nowadays and are more willing to try different things. You can wear a shirt on the beach or in the boardroom; it's just a question of making sure you have the right shirt for the right occasion. Although the classic look is still our strength, we are looking to lead the market in terms of shirting.

I think we're succeeding too, as several of our new lines are proving very popular. Among these is the travelling shirt, with a hidden pocket for a credit card or passport, and our slimfit and casual cuts. We use 250 threads, which is the finest fabric you could have and the brand is very true to its English heritage.

In England, where many men still dress quite formally and suits are the norm, what do you think about the increasing popularity of semi-casual dress?

I think it's great. It gives more opportunity to use shirts for different occasions. Not everyone is wearing a shirt with a tie nowadays. People are opting for different looks, whether it's in the shape of the collar or the cut of the shirt. So a shirt can be luxurious or very playful and great fun with a touch of humour. The styles available are not just for formal occasions.

Are you inspired by shirts?

Yes, I like wearing different shirts. Wearing a Pink shirt gives me confidence, and put me in the right mood for the occasion, whether it's for an important meeting or a weekend party.

What do you think when you see a guy wearing a pink-coloured shirt?

I think it shows confidence and strength of character. It reflects an individual who is not scared to wear the colour. The fact that the company called itself Pink was quite brave in a way because it associated a menswear brand with the colour pink. But I think men now feel confident and comfortable carrying a Pink bag around. It's a great gift and when they see the distinctive Pink box, they are instantly excited about what's going to be inside.

What colour do you like?

Pink, actually.

Any tips for choosing a shirt?

Come to the shop with an open mind. Allow yourself to try something you haven't done before. Buy the shirt that you feel good in and that fits you. Experiment.

Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation