The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2022 - Issue 32

bitemen O nce in a while, you’ll come across someone dressed in a rather bold or colour- ful shirt attracting virtual- ly everyone’s attention. Most men go for the ‘safe’ plain or striped look, but Manchester-based premium menswear brand Blake Mill encourages people to stand out from the crowd, whether it’s an exciting collar or a cuff lining, and ex- press their individuality through clothes. Founded in 2018 by three friends Steve French, Ross French and Ken Price, Blake Mill makes unique and high-quali- ty men’s dress shirts. The founders have various qualifica- tions and backgrounds that may seem far from the realm of fashion but still contribute to their business. Steve has a degree in Mathematics, has worked in Hong Kong Special Forces and as a journalist, trader, COO (Chief Operating Officer) at an international risk manage- ment tech company, CDO (Chief Data Officer) at a global bank and company co-founder/entrepreneur three times, with Blake Mill being the third. Ross has a Physics degree and worked on several internet-related businesses with Steve over the past eight years. He is the technical guru in digitally render- ing new designs, processing imagery and videography, and Blake Mill's digital advertising. With a degree in Mechani- cal Engineering and an MBA in Finance, Ken has worked as MD (Managing Di- rector) of EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) for a global risk management software company and head of sales/ business development for a silicon val- ley start-up. Blake Mill makes shirts for those who forge their path and walk to their beat. “We have our utterly unique take on de- sign. We don’t do stripes or checks; in- stead, we take inspiration from the world around us. Be it freedom of speech, the endless march of time, or barbed wire fencing, our shirts all tell a story.” Whilst average shirts look great on a hanger; they age rapidly once they’ve been BLAKE MILL Images courtesy of Daddy the Agency