HE'S ONLY GONE AND STARTED A BRAND





Evening guys, this is the first post for bloody months, the longest I have ever left my blog between writing since I started it, so I apologise. You're probably wondering if I have a good excuse though right? Well I have . . I've spent the last ten months creating a brand of my very own, exciting stuff!






Since it's October again and after my shocker of a Birthday post last year, when I was pretty down, finances getting on top of me (it's actually got a whole lot worse) and my outlook of general life (better) this year I have given success another shot - I've only gone and done something I always known I've had in me! That's to build a brand of my very own! Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling And The Stoned.




I'm going to quote myself here from last years birthday post 'My true thoughts at the minute are - if no one wants me to create for them, I will start a brand and create for myself! Would that work? Who knows but I'd love nothing more to build something I'm proud of and be my own boss'. A year on from writing those words and I'm sitting here with just that, my very own fucking brand. Everything in place, everything ready and waiting, I am actually really fucking proud of myself. I didn't start the year with the premise of going out there to start a brand, I sort of just did one thing after the other and ended up with a business. . it's a weird feeling, everything just fell into place.


I have had some luck over the last year, actually showcasing my work in an exhibition on the west coast of Scotland which was a great confidence boost in the early days of starting my journey of being a potter and working with clay. I feel like all the jobs and experience I've had over the years, has sort of put me in the perfect position to know a little bit about how a business needs to be set-up, each failure and even success in my past has all sort of taught me everything I need to know to start my own brand. The best bit about all the jobs I've had is that I've had the pleasure of meeting some amazing people along the way! I've been able to use all that to my advantage, everything from cold calling companies, liaising with printing companies, offering my services for discounts, been a people person, using the odd bit of charm here and there and being in the right place at the right time. That's not to mention all my super creative friends doing big things of their own and have generously given their time to help me along the journey from designing logo's to modelling, even lending hard cold cash, they've all being fucking legendary and I literally could not have done it without them! A huge thank you to all my pals & family, you know who you are x.


So what's the deal, what's it all about and what am I selling, what does it mean? The Rolling And The Stoned, well, what can I say, it just came to me. Clay the medium I am working with can be rolled out, the clay is then fired, turning a once soft object hard - hard as stone. Stoned also has a little wink to the olllll Jeffery, which a few of my pieces might include. The name of the brand also is a nod to the rock n' roll legends themselves, my favourite The Rolling Stones. I actually looked up Rolling Stone mag when I was researching the name and came across an amazing story, which again, it's a YouTube watch I ain't getting into right now! The Stones themselves are quintessentially British and that's exactly what I want my brand to sum up and reflect back on too!


Cups and saucers again (might have given you a little insight into what I'm making there, but wait for it) are so British, the whole fascination that Britain has with breakfast or afternoon tea is something which I have been influenced by. A lot of older style high tea sets have a royal British feel, with their coat of arms, their logo, the stamp, the seal on the pottery of which old British factory it had originated in. I love it, British pottery needs a revival, a sexy, luxury, high end shot of life once again and that's exactly what I'm bringing to the party! Oh baby you better be ready!




Here's a snippet from the About Us on my new website:

We are The Rolling and The Stoned, we're a luxury ceramics brand with a naughty side. Inspired by the subversive culture of the 70's and 80's; The Rolling and The Stoned evokes all things sexy, luxury & jet-set. Each piece tells a story from the morning after the night before, adorned with eclectic mementoes such as stubbed-out cigs, burnt matches, lipstick stains and cigarette ash.' I feel that it perfectly sums up the brand and right now that's all I have to say on the matter.

The whole journey of building a brand of my own stems back to the problems I was having this time last year and sort of the year before that, and maybe the year before that too! That was me not getting as much videography work as I wanted or having a real chance to create and brand something for a job which I bloody adore doing! Obviously with The Rolling And The Stoned I have saved a lot of cash that I would have had to spend on a videographer and photographer but I happened to know a great one who hasn't worked in months/years, always wanting a chance to prove himself. So I threw him a bone and took a chance giving him the job of branding and marketing TRATS (The Rolling and The Stoned) and oh did he deliver. . Wait that was ME!

The brand is based, designed and made all within the U.K. everything I've used down to the napkin in your order is made or based right here in the United Kingdom, supporting British companies, getting the best quality possible and keeping my carbon footprint of the brand minimal. I wanted it to be luxury, from the first impressions of the packing to what the narrative follows inside the box (which is all eco friendly by the way).



Fear not as if you just want to sit and listen to my story so far, I imagine there will be a very lengthy YouTube to watch tonight at the bottom of this post! Go check out all my YouTube's which I have been documenting from the very start, back in January. You will have to take a look across on the website, if you want the coolest espresso cup on the market, look no further! Obviously this won't be the end of the Unidentified Rocker but this is the new age of what I will be using my blog and IG for. Think of it as behind the scenes of building my brand with of course the odd mix of fashion.


Use what you have, where you are, with the contact book you're already lucky to own and with all that, you will change your life.


As always, cheers for reading, really appreciate it!






MR WOOD LONDON III







Evening guys. Tonight we're back with a Mr Wood London shirt, my third shirt from their collections over the past few years. If you want to see the others plus check the story out of how the brand came about, check out my previous posts here - 'Lip Print Shirt' - and the 'Good Times Mexican Shirt' which are two epic bangers from past collections!





Every single collection has been top draw, consisting a range of amazing limited edition printed shirts (runs of 150 each) which you'll never find anywhere else on the market! Creating the coolest patterns and motifs, from vibrant lip prints with cigarettes in mouth to Mexican skeletons having a few beers and partying on. Only naming a few of my favourites but I mean, what more do you want on a shirt! All of Mr Wood's designs come in long and short sleeves so you can pick what style works for you. I always go for the long sleeves, as I feel this suits me best. 





This is the first collection drop where Mr Wood have included small in their size range so now sizes run up from S to XXL, there's really no excuses now. MW shirting range are the ultimate statement piece to wear here in the U.K. or for a laid back look somewhere hot on that holiday you've got planned in a few months time. As soon as you throw on one of these 100% smooth viscose shirts, you imagine yourself holding an ice cold one under the sun. Also the perfect addition is their range of killer swim shorts to get the whole 'co-ord around the pool' going on.







Let's talk about my latest edition, the matchstick shirt - how fucking cool man. I adore the print on this shirt, the details are everything. I hadn't even noticed online that all of the matchsticks are different - some un-struck, some burnt out, some only half used, love it! I wore this with a red vintage jacket of mine, classic black skinnies and a pair of sunglasses, why? Because for five whole minutes the sun came out in Scotland... unheard of mate!




The likes of rock n' roll royalty Ronnie Wood is also a huge fan of the brand now, occasionally sporting some of Mr Wood's shirting himself. Basically, if its cool enough for Ronnie, I'll take one too! Check out my YouTube this week where I talk about the shirt in a little more detail and fill you in on my fashion disaster! My fingers are crossed you can't see it already!


Shop Mr Wood London here - Mr Wood

Cheers for reading,



VINTAGE SHEARLINGS




Evening guys, hello and welcome to the New Year! January has been a cold one pretty much everywhere, hence why I've been on the look out for more thicker, substantial items to really wrap up warm. Tonight my post is about my latest editions to the winter wardrobe - my retro shearlings. You all should know me by now and know how much I love a shearling jacket! Especially if it's a vintage beauty oozing all that character and that's exactly what I have here! Not only was I lucky enough to find one over the past few months, but two unbelievable, down right sexy jackets! However, now I have a slight problem, I already own one, now I have three in my collection, all shaggy, tan suede, so before my clothes rail collapses under the sheer weight of three bulky shearlings, one must to go!




There's nothing better than wrapping up in a shearling, you get the old rockstar look as well as the comfort & warmth so badly needed this time of year, there really isn't the style over substance approach with a piece like a shearling, they look bloody amazing and serve a purpose all at the same time! They really are the all rounder jacket, a complete win win. We'll talk about the jacket that begrudgingly I'll be putting up for sale and that's this one - I think this one has to go as it's so close to my original shearling I found in London a few years back. Nevertheless this jacket still is down right killer and I'm sad to see it go but it's screaming out to be someone else's go-to winter style and needs some love'in!






It's a slightly longer style suede with two deep flap pockets on the front, it has a huge over exaggerated fur collar waiting to be flipped up, pulled in and worn out on a freezing cold February day. It has a big silver, chunky zip running up its centre with added further metal details like the small clasps on the cuffs. The jacket is fully lined with quilting and fur that runs about two inches into the jacket from the edges of the piece. It's the perfect silhouette with its thick panelling and suede. When you wear this jacket, zip it to the top, nothing will stop you. I'd say its about a small/medium fit.




My other find is this, still tan suede, still fur lined, but this time its a little more cropped, tight fitting and it has a dark, coffee brown curled lining, it's the same but different at the same time. I adore this jacket and its now the one I throw on to take my car out. The cold wind hitting me whilst driving with the top down, but with this stylised flying jacket, it's does just the trick of keeping me warm.


The main thing about this particular jacket which is even different to my London shearling is that it's fully lined, you put your arm into it, and feel that fur, the whole of the body and arms are wrapped in curly, soft fleece lining! Oh baby. I wanted to feature these two jackets for a while now, but with a huge project currently underway (It's top secret) and I think it'll be that way for a good few months yet, I just haven't had the time, but since January has finally come to a close, I had to post a blog, to keep my hand in!

If anyone is interested in taking the jacket DM me on Instagram x

Hope you're all good and have had a great start to the year.
As always I appreciate you reading