National Creativity Day

It’s National Creativity Day and we thought today would be the perfect opportunity to shout about some of the amazing creative minds that work for us here at P&Co.

The majority of the team, as well as working hard to constantly create all the P&Co goodness that you guys know and love, also have their own side-projects, businesses and hobbies that allow them to express their creativity.

Team Member: Liam @half.hold | Creative outlet: Hand-made leather goods

My name’s Liam, I’m from Birmingham & I’m a Product developer Assistant at P&Co. I’ve been with the company for around 7 months now & its been a real privilege to join such a talented team of creative people!

I run a small brand in my free time called Half Hold, where I make leather wallets & accessories entirely by hand. Each piece is unique & I pride myself in using the best leathers the world has to offer & building my goods to stand the test of time.

My biggest inspiration would definitely be my disability, I was born without my left hand & this has always been a driving factor in proving to the world that people with disabilities can be just as able. My long term goal is to spread disability awareness & inspire others to take on their passions, as we all deserve to feel accomplished doing something we love!

My favourite project that I’ve worked on would be one of my backpacks, a roll-top style in a natural vegetable tanned leather. This was probably one of the most physically taxing projects I’ve ever dealt with, hand-sewing every detail & setting brass saddlers rivets at stress points with a hammer. Its completely overkill when it comes to durability, but nevertheless its a piece that makes me very proud.

Team Member: Frankie @frankisaur | Creative outlet: Content creation

My name is Frankie and I’m the Marketing Assistant here at P&Co. I’m from a little village just outside of Coventry and currently live about 25 minutes away from Birmingham.

Alongside social media being the main part of my job, I am also a digital content creator outside of work with a love of all things 60s/70s nostalgic, boho and a little bit rock n roll. I work with lots of different kinds of fashion/ lifestyle brands to create content for their social media and use my platforms as a way to document my personal style. Basically, I live and breathe all things social media. 

My family has had a huge impact on my creative journey. My parents were in the rocker/ biker scene in the 70s so this has obviously impacted my love of the era and music, and I’m absolutely obsessed with Stevie Nicks. Her style, her music, her outlook on life, it influences me in everything I do. 

I definitely think my favourite project so far was modelling for one of my favourite vintage inspired clothing brands, The Hippie Shake. They launched a vintage capsule collection inspired by the book/ TV series Daisy Jones and The Six (which coincidentally is one of my faves!) and they asked me to go down to London to model the collection for them which was definitely a bit of a ‘pinch me’ moment.

Team Member: Lee @_leetimms | Creative outlet: Pottery

Hey, I’m Lee. Co- founder and Creative Director here at P&Co. I’m from Leicestershire in the UK.

Over the past 8 months or so I’ve taken up pottery. I’m really enjoying the process of working with a different medium and learning something new. It’s been challenging but I’m really enjoying it. I can’t say I’ve really found ‘my style’ yet with it but I’m having fun either way!

I’ve always been into hand drawn lettering and antiques. Luckily, being from the midlands, the industrial heartbeat of the UK, we’ve got a lot of inspiration on our doorsteps. Especially around the Jewellery Quarter, where we set up the business, many factory’s still have the hand sign painted walls/ adverts still on them. As for individuals I was always inspired by Jon Contino, a hand letterer and designer from.New York. Now in my pottery works I’ve been watching tonnes of videos of Florian Gadsby to try and learn as I go!

Team Member: Spencer @esbe____ | Creative outlet: Fashion & design

My name is Spencer Billiard, I am part of the Product Development team here at P&Co.

Let me start with the name, ESBĒ. It is pronounced S-B, which are my initials phonetically spelt. ESBĒ has been an on-going project of mine which has been in the pipeline for a while now so, I started way back in 2016 as a little hobby while I was at University this eventually turned into a passion. I hand design and craft the patterns, then sew all my clothing in my home studio in Birmingham.

Every piece is hand crafted, made to order clothing. Inspired by the aesthetics of workwear and Japanese box cuts, the result is a unique interpretation of traditional essential items and a mix of technical touches and unique fabric combinations. Materials, fabrics, buttons and threads all sourced in Birmingham, UK.

I have a lot more to come this year as I dive into expanding my brand with a new range of workwear jackets, trousers, t-shirts and goods coming soon. So keep them eyes peeled.

Team Member: Jake @jakepunx | Creative outlet: Graphic design

I'm Jake, my role here at P&Co is Graphic Designer. My duties include creating marketing materials such as emails, adverts, t-shirt graphics and everything in between. I love a good challenge and to take on any job in the studio.Hailing from sunny Wolverhampton I am Black Country born and bred.

Outta This Town is my little brand side hustle which I have been running myself since 2016. The brand is built on the love of design, rad music and travel. I embrace the do it yourself punk ethic, I think it's important to stay open minded and be a free thinker as a sole individual.

I’m currently in the process of narrowing down t-shirt graphics to get printed for an upcoming mini festival which I have a stall at.

I find inspiration from my surroundings everyday, I love to travel to different cities and photograph graphics that I love (this includes a lot of street art).

A person who has influenced me as a person is Tom DeLonge from the bands Blink-182 and Angels and Airwaves. I love his whole mindset of being able to do anything. He makes, music, art, movies, tv shows, writes books, we are all creatives.

Tough one! Probably my favourite I’ve worked on are my patch designs I’ve created, the way it all came together designing the artwork just ran so smoothly as if it was meant to happen. I LOVE badge designs so creating these hold a close place in my heart.

Team Member: Ella | Creative outlet: Illustration

Hey! I’m Ella, I’m the Junior Product Designer at P&Co. I work alongside our creative director and product team to design all the lovely products you know and love! I’ve been working here over 2 years now. I’m not much of a Brummie, so much so my nickname in the office is Queen! I’m from Dorset, aka the shire. But I love working in the Jewellery Quarter it’s a real creative hub, full of inspiration!

I do all sorts of freelance, but for our Vol.12 tabloid I wanted to add a portrait of our Creative Director and CEO that was a little more personal than a photograph.

So I suggested doing a sketch of them which is the illustration above. I did it on the iPad, but all the details are freehand, I’m a devil for detail so I loved sketching the fabric and bringing the personalities to life!

I’ve been freelancing since I was about 18, it’s a great way to keep developing my skills and work on projects that I wouldn’t have necessarily thought of doing on my own accord.

I went through a phase of collecting vintage tees, my favourite style being Harley Davidson. I love seeing a date printed piece, knowing that tee was made in 1998 and it’s still in great condition with me today and potentially the only one still in existence.

I find inspiration everywhere, I find if I ever have artist's block I go for a walk. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the countryside or the city. Something will catch my eye and inspire a sketch, a photo or a painting. But also working with such other talented creatives at P&Co inspires me. We’re always encouraging each other it’s lovely.

Team Member: Beau @garm_city | Creative outlet: Vintage streetwear

I’m Beau, I’ve been with P&Co for a year and a half, working as a Customer Experience Assistant.

I have a passion for genuine Streetwear. What started out as a hobby has now become my side hustle and lifestyle with my small brand Garm City. I have a stall located at the Red Brick Market Birmingham, and try my best to do monthly pop ups. let’s try be more sustainable

My biggest influence would be my parents. Ever since I can remember, my dad would be up cycling furniture and reselling them on. My mom would repair any of my clothes that I’d tear rather than throwing them out or buying new.

I went through a phase of collecting vintage tees, my favourite style being Harley Davidson. I love seeing a date printed piece, knowing that tee was made in 1998 and it’s still in great condition with me today and potentially the only one still in existence.