Tell us a bit about how you got involved in the designer clothing
business and What year did you open?

we opened over 15 years back 1993 selling vintage camden town gear be it 2nd
hand 501 levis , old skool adidas treefoil tees, adidas jeans , adidas
cords. We came up via the music world being active promoters of anything of
the beaten track. In early 1994 we put on Oasis first ever uk headline tour
show and the brit pop explosion took us onto another plateau with
underground hitting the mainstream


Have you got any high street stores or are you purely online based?

we have 4 stores total 2 branded mens and 2 boutique ladies stores , we used
to be hidden away although today we are close to the high streets in classy
victorian arcades in Bedford and Hitchin and just avoid stupid rent and
rates and the riff raff of bland high street customers.


Whats your all time best seller?

Oddly its recent times and it would be a tough call between Fila Settanta
matchday 2007 and Sergio Tacchini Dallas 2006. The film the business brought
back the casual thing for us and in 2006 we went and bought all the stock
for the bigger casual lads- not that any brand was big fitting !!


Current best seller?

Fila seem to have pipped tacchini possibly still having more fuel in the
tank and i guess the cantetta short is the best seller of all we did 100
pairs before the sun came out and reckon we could have sold 300. Tacchini
took the impact of the business getting all Danny Dyer worn styles out there
fast. Whilst the scene is still expanding by the minute with old skool fans
keen to get back to their favourite brands and styles they simply could not
afford the brands still have opportunity to revisit styles from 2006 -07
there classics and most modern day retaillers have to wake up to its not
fashion its classic. If any retailler sales there product we will always
have it.


What is your own personal favourite label of all time and also your most cherished item in your wardrobe?

In retail your favourite brand can be the one that gave you most pleasure
all round a shirt brand called gee van possibly put the most food on the
table one year and the customers loved it and that means a huge amount to
us. I guess looking at the Fila terrindas gives me most pleasure it can take
a bit to get me spending money and i was most happy paying top money for
these. I like the velour and terry towelling tracks and think they still
have an opportunity to be huge they oozes class and originality in a glum
fashion / sports environment.

What about all time favourite trainers?

I was a nike kid and the wally waffle and wimbledon's were both favourites
for me. current days the Kswiss moulton is a master piece shoe that saw the
brand capture a wide audience. In years to come i am sure this shoe can be a
retro classic.

Do you think "The Business" released in 2006 played any part in Fila and
Sergio Tacchini getting there act together and finally re-issuing some of
the best clobber of all time?

Undoubtedly Tacchini were a big player in the film and I understand were
consulted through out and certainly took the opportunity although they
missed out with the sky dallas featured on most adverts releasing late in
the winter when clearly the summer release was crying out for it, they also
had little bottle to bring out shorts and pants which punters all wanted.
Items like these to me carry a press opportunity for attention and to see
people buy a track pant over a pair of jeans and a tight butt pair of tennis
shorts over a knee length camo pair is some achievement in retail. Fila have
started to embrace the film and all best sellers were key Borg or Danny Dyer
pieces so hats off all round to Nick Love for serving up a hefty reminder.

As you are by far the biggest seller of Fila Vintage and Sergio Tacchini
online do you have any influence in re-releases and if so how do you go
about it?

I think in many ways brands like tacchini needed to be aware of the slow
build in awareness of the casual revival pete a reborn casual meets john at
xmas in his dallas and john wants one etc etc Pete tells John about the
business film and of course www.80scasualclassics.co.uk and he starts to
relive the dream also etc. I had to encourage constant re-issues of styles
that punters all wanted whether released in 2006 or not to me Tacchini went
in 1986 and arrived again 20 years later in 2006- they think they were
around in that period but its the wilderness casual years for their brand.
With Fila our buyers send us images and emails request remakes via our
campaign for re-release page. I keep an eye on ebay and buy up anything that
looks great or simply reminds me of the era and take it to Fila to push for
a remake. Sometimes its our own confidence that sees a style is reproduced.
We have acquired 1000s of buyers and we occasionally test ideas on some
before we commit to a release. Every single season we dont buy enough and
demand constantly out weighs supply on great styles which fuels more
re-issues.

We Receive lots of emails from people that have had problems with the Sergio Tacchini sizing. Can you offer any advice?

Fila have embraced the sizing more and fila xxl probably equals tacchini 3xl
most of the time. Its never huge i think a 46 chest is squezzing a 3xl.
With good waistebands and cuffs going up a size is really never a problem i
can put on small medium or large and they are all wearable looks its just
down to the individual. We sense our customer is becoming more daring
wearing styles smaller fitting than when he first put on his revivalist
casual piece. I will campaign for a 4xl on tacchini and have got some fila
3xl which should be a 46-48 chest opportunity.

What's next for 80scasualclassics, have you got anything in the pipeline
with regard to future items or stocking more brands?

We are on the hunt to embrace many looks from this era and its a case of
watch this space - we will probably take on some companies and may attempt
to take over some brands that need some TLC to get back to their casual
heydays. Too many sports brands struggle to step back and see there is an
opportunity over and above low level sports retail. Fila have proved this
with varying levels of Fila out there - obviously there is only one fila and
thats Fila vintage.

I must thank our customers for helping us make this happen - all top people.

Neil - 80scasualclassics.co.uk /planet clothing / honourabletype ebayer