Clocking On...Doug Gunn – Sartorial haven
Doug Gunn preserves a precious part of denim’s history through the vast collection of jeans and men’s garments at The Vintage Showroom.
6.30am
Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue is my wake-up call and the cure-all track of my life. I am married with two teenage daughters, so getting everyone out of the door in one piece with everything they need is a collective effort (quarter-backed by my amazing wife!). Today is World Book Day and the Mr Bump costume needs some last-minute work.
10.00am
I have hit the gym, showered and caught the tube over to our West London Studio in time for my first meeting. It’s via Zoom with an old friend and collaborator, David Tring, an early-stage concept meeting about an exhibition in Hong Kong for later in the year. It’s still in the discussion stage but very exciting if it happens! We talk denim and put the world to rights.
12.00pm
The Vintage Showroom team is a small, highly skilled, tight unit that constantly punches above our weight! We slot in a social media session celebrating the amazing new Belstaff 100-year anniversary book, which we contributed to and just received.
2.00pm
It’s a quick Uber ride over to our new Central London showroom and head office. Back on Zoom for a catch-up with our colleagues at denim mill Orta Anadolu, who we have been consultants for for many years. It is an exciting part of the season, discussing new concepts and fabrics. We are working on a top-secret new Black and Grey story to launch in Amsterdam, but let’s keep that between ourselves!
4.00pm
It’s espresso time at TVS and I go down to my favourite part of the archive, our denim room, prepping for a meeting with a team from Paris for the next day, looking at workwear and washes from our collection for new-season developments.
6.00pm
I am locking up and heading out. I call my wife and kids to check in as I walk over to Shoreditch. We usually eat dinner as a family every night, so if I’m travelling or out, I always try and check in and say hi.
7.00pm
Tonight is a special dinner organised by Belstaff to celebrate the book launch, a lovely evening with lovely people and superb food from the Rochelle Canteen kitchen team. I am a Negroni and a couple of glasses of wine to the good, but tonight is a school night so I head home around 10:30. Andre 3000’s album keeps me company on a packed Northern line tube back to Wimbledon, I love London!
11:55pm
I hit the bed, feels good being the right side of midnight. Today was a good day but, sorry Miles, I am snoozing that alarm come the morning!
Doug Gunn is managing director of the Vintage Showroom, which he co-founded in London with Roy Luckett in 2007. The company runs two by-appointment showrooms showcasing their vintage clothing collection, available for creatives and designers. As well as being available to buy or rent for commercial projects, the archive is used for education and inspiration.
Photos: Doug Gunn
