Latest news with #MarcusFairfaxFountaine
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Marcus Fairfax Fountaine Of Fairfax And Favor On His British Countryside-Inspired Label
Campaign imagery Established in 2013 by childhood friends Marcus Fairfax Fountaine and Felix Favor Parker, lifestyle brand Fairfax & Favor celebrates all things British. Drawing inspiration from the countryside, the label is loved for its handcrafted tall boots, accessories and outwear that combines practicality with field-to-town fashion. Having built a loyal customer base, the brand likes to keep busy with events in the U.K. and abroad, most recently at the Badminton Horse Trials and The Defender Kentucky, and this year slo announced Zara Tindall as an official ambassador. xx Marcus Fairfax Fountaine, co-founding director of Fairfax & Favor discusses the evolution of his brand, and what's next for British lifestyle label. Marcus Fairfax Fountaine: My business partner Felix and I have always been passionate about footwear. My mother would always tell us that girls judge boys on their shoes, so creating the highest quality and uniquely stylish products is something that has always resonated with us. We both come from a British rural background and found it frustrating that when you were out in the countryside, wellies really were the only practical option. There was just not any option for looking stylish and being practical at same time. So it just seemed obvious to us that there should be something that let you look the part, feel great but be practical for a rural way of life. This is where Fairfax & Favor was born. What started in 2013 with our iconic boot, the Regina, has since evolved into an award-winning luxury lifestyle brand of quality, timeless and versatile footwear, accessories and outerwear designed for modern rural living. Campaign imagery MFF: Fairfax & Favor is a luxury lifestyle brand. We are aspiring to create effortlessly stylish pieces that blend both heritage and modern rural style - timeless, elegant products with a contemporary take. We very much design the full silhouette for a rural lifestyle but with both town and country living in mind. The great thing about this is that at Fairfax & Favor we are, to a certain degree, designing for ourselves, we are our own customer. Where this might begin is thinking of concepts around problems that we could be trying to improve. So for example, our Explorer Boots were born out of conceptualising our super stylish suede Regina to make elegant yet practical and waterproof boots. We are a rural British brand so will often look to heritage, nature, our equestrian roots and the countryside as inspiration for our collections and colour palettes. After concept, the next stage is sketch and from there we will work with our factory partners to get the product development and any technology in place. In the case of the Explorer, we worked with Sympatex who manufacture the waterproof lining and produce first samples. We'll receive leather swatches with the boot and this process is repeated until we have achieved the final sample. Our products go through rigorous testing to include BLC testing for durability, compliance and safety. Our team will be on site at the factory in Portugal to sign off every individual product that comes off the line. The finishing and packaging of the product is as important to us as its development. As a B-Corp registered company, it's crucial that our materials and factories are all ethically sourced and compliant. The essence of the Fairfax & Favor brand is Rural Vogue, creating luxury heritage pieces but with a contemporary take. We take time to engage with our customers whether that is through research of our Facebook community to understand their needs and what they are looking for. We are a young company with a fresh and modern outlook and keen eyes on seasonal trends that we seamlessly entwine with our quality classics. Campaign imagery From our and a customer point of view, our most important pillars are quality, longevity and timeless style. We want people to invest in products that are not going to be in and out in one season, but are timeless in their design and luxurious in their quality. We work with the best factories in Portugal to handcraft artisan products that will stand the test of time – we want customers to wear our products for years to come. The second is delivering a unique experience for our customers. Whether that's an in-store experience in one of our nine U.K. stores where you're offered a glass of bubbles as you explore the range or a one-on-one private appointment where you can order products in advance and have the exclusive attention of one of our fabulous store team. At our show stands, we love to bring the brand to life. We have a saxophonist and a free bar when you try something on that all adds to the unique experience for the customer. The third would be our excellent customer service. We have a fantastic customer service team that we really invest in because we want our customers to feel reassured and special. It's very much what you'd expect but if you have a great experience, you'll tell those you know and you'll come again. We reflect this service ethos that across all parts of our business. There is such a broad range of customers for Fairfax & Favor as we are truly cross generational. We have a wide range of ages that shop with us and this has expanded from a quite young age base when we first started the brand and as the range and our offer has developed. We are predominantly a female led brand, although our men's share is growing. I'd say ultimately our customer is anyone with a passion for style and adventure. They don't buy into fast fashion, they buy better and so they seek something with longevity and comfort but without compromising on style. Campaign imagery My favorite piece is probably our Mini Windsor handbag. Zara Tindall has worn this many times. It's a really versatile crossbody bag, which is so popular because it is so versatile, beautiful and functional, it has just always been a staple. We're proud to have recently announced Zara Tindall as a brand ambassador. Zara has worn our products for many years and I believe she has a genuine appreciation for our values as a brand - quality, longevity and distinctive styles. We feel very honoured to be working with her. In the last six months we have opened another three stores in the U.K., which now takes us to nine. We know how important it is for customers to be able to see, feel and try on products and so we invest in offering them a multi-channel experience with physical stores and of course our easy to use website. We have just finished Badminton Horse Trials which is one of our biggest events of the year. We had a grand stand with a saxophonist, engaging team and a free bar when customers tried on any item as well as an exclusive lake side area where guests could immerse themselves in the action of the event. Oliver Townend of Great Britain aboard Cooley Rosalent on day four of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials 2025 at The Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire. Picture date: Saturday May 10, 2025. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images) In the U.S. we have just exhibited at Defender Kentucky which is a huge event in the Fairfax & Favor events calendar. We're now getting ready for the next big shows, The Game Fair, an event that was pivotal in our business growth, and The Defender Burghley Horse Trials where we will be paying homage to some of our most iconic pieces. We are expanding well in the U.S. and now have a store located at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina and a presence this year at 23 shows. Our U.S. share of global sales has grown from 3% to 10% in two years, testament to our dedication to nurturing our U.S. consumer and we are very excited to see where this growth takes us in the future.
Fashion Network
22-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Fairfax & Favor targets US expansion despite tariffs
British brand Fairfax & Favor is continuing its focus on US expansion, despite the current tariff situation that could impact trade between the UK and US for the foreseeable future. The company has seen a strong period or 'organic' growth in America, co-founder Marcus Fairfax Fountaine told The Times. He added that 'the opportunity to expand there massively outweighs the challenges'. The decade-old 'rural vogue' label began life as a niche equestrian-inspired footwear brand, but now also includes a full line-up of outerwear for woman and men, plus bags and other accessories. The company is targeting a major jump in US revenue to 20% of its total sales within three years, up from 10% at present and 3% just two years ago. But the UK remains its core market — apart from those US sales, its sales from the rest of the world currently make up only around 1% of its total. The firm's accounts for the year to March 2024, filed at Companies House, show turnover of £36 million, up by only £1 million year on year but having seen 50% US growth. Pre-tax profits dipped from £4 million to £2.5 million as a result of store opening and warehouse investment. It has nine stores in market towns across the UK, as well as one in the US. Fairfax Fountaine told the newspaper that American shoppers are drawn to the 'Britishness' of the brand 'and the fact Zara Tindall is a customer. She's the kind of person our customers tend to like'. Tindall, a British equestrian Olympian, is the daughter of Princess Anne and became an ambassador for the label last month. Like other niche rural brands, the company has focused on reaching customers via outdoor events and the co-founder told The Times that it will double its presence at such events across the US (including the Kentucky horse trials). And it's looking at opening more stores there following its debut location at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina that opened its doors in 2023. Fairfax & Favor may sound like the kind of name anyone searching for a British-country-heritage-meets-the-US type of moniker might come up with. But in fact, it simply reflects the founders' names. It's clearly part of Fairfax Fountaine's name and he founded the brand with his childhood friend Felix Favor Parker in 2013. Manufactured in the UK, Portugal and Spain, it has become a regular feature at events such as the Cheltenham Festival and is also a celebrity favourite.
Fashion Network
22-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Fairfax & Favor targets US expansion despite tariffs
British brand Fairfax & Favor is continuing its focus on US expansion, despite the current tariff situation that could impact trade between the UK and US for the foreseeable future. The company has seen a strong period or 'organic' growth in America, co-founder Marcus Fairfax Fountaine told The Times. He added that 'the opportunity to expand there massively outweighs the challenges'. The decade-old 'rural vogue' label began life as a niche equestrian-inspired footwear brand, but now also includes a full line-up of outerwear for woman and men, plus bags and other accessories. The company is targeting a major jump in US revenue to 20% of its total sales within three years, up from 10% at present and 3% just two years ago. But the UK remains its core market — apart from those US sales, its sales from the rest of the world currently make up only around 1% of its total. The firm's accounts for the year to March 2024, filed at Companies House, show turnover of £36 million, up by only £1 million year on year but having seen 50% US growth. Pre-tax profits dipped from £4 million to £2.5 million as a result of store opening and warehouse investment. It has nine stores in market towns across the UK, as well as one in the US. Fairfax Fountaine told the newspaper that American shoppers are drawn to the 'Britishness' of the brand 'and the fact Zara Tindall is a customer. She's the kind of person our customers tend to like'. Tindall, a British equestrian Olympian, is the daughter of Princess Anne and became an ambassador for the label last month. Like other niche rural brands, the company has focused on reaching customers via outdoor events and the co-founder told The Times that it will double its presence at such events across the US (including the Kentucky horse trials). And it's looking at opening more stores there following its debut location at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina that opened its doors in 2023. Fairfax & Favor may sound like the kind of name anyone searching for a British-country-heritage-meets-the-US type of moniker might come up with. But in fact, it simply reflects the founders' names. It's clearly part of Fairfax Fountaine's name and he founded the brand with his childhood friend Felix Favor Parker in 2013. Manufactured in the UK, Portugal and Spain, it has become a regular feature at events such as the Cheltenham Festival and is also a celebrity favourite.
Fashion Network
22-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Fairfax & Favor targets US expansion despite tariffs
British brand Fairfax & Favor is continuing its focus on US expansion, despite the current tariff situation that could impact trade between the UK and US for the foreseeable future. The company has seen a strong period or 'organic' growth in America, co-founder Marcus Fairfax Fountaine told The Times. He added that 'the opportunity to expand there massively outweighs the challenges'. The decade-old 'rural vogue' label began life as a niche equestrian-inspired footwear brand, but now also includes a full line-up of outerwear for woman and men, plus bags and other accessories. The company is targeting a major jump in US revenue to 20% of its total sales within three years, up from 10% at present and 3% just two years ago. But the UK remains its core market — apart from those US sales, its sales from the rest of the world currently make up only around 1% of its total. The firm's accounts for the year to March 2024, filed at Companies House, show turnover of £36 million, up by only £1 million year on year but having seen 50% US growth. Pre-tax profits dipped from £4 million to £2.5 million as a result of store opening and warehouse investment. It has nine stores in market towns across the UK, as well as one in the US. Fairfax Fountaine told the newspaper that American shoppers are drawn to the 'Britishness' of the brand 'and the fact Zara Tindall is a customer. She's the kind of person our customers tend to like'. Tindall, a British equestrian Olympian, is the daughter of Princess Anne and became an ambassador for the label last month. Like other niche rural brands, the company has focused on reaching customers via outdoor events and the co-founder told The Times that it will double its presence at such events across the US (including the Kentucky horse trials). And it's looking at opening more stores there following its debut location at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina that opened its doors in 2023. Fairfax & Favor may sound like the kind of name anyone searching for a British-country-heritage-meets-the-US type of moniker might come up with. But in fact, it simply reflects the founders' names. It's clearly part of Fairfax Fountaine's name and he founded the brand with his childhood friend Felix Favor Parker in 2013. Manufactured in the UK, Portugal and Spain, it has become a regular feature at events such as the Cheltenham Festival and is also a celebrity favourite.
