Welcome to New Utility

Who am I?

My name is Mark. By day I earn my living as a photographer and split my time between Copenhagen & London. New-Utility.co.uk is an online mens lifestyle blog with the emphasis on heritage and vintage fashion, but with occasional forays in to design and slow food & drink.

Vision - or why I'm doing this?

It all started with in 2004 with my involvement in The Chap Magazine and The New Sheridan Club. My lateral drift over the last decade eventually took me away from the more formal Savile Row inspired vintage fashion to early 20th century British & American workwear.

I take inspiration form a broad range of periods, but roughly from the 1880's to 1960. This idea of new utility stems from the wartime CC41 clothing that was simply made with an economy of form. 
I can still remember my grandfather doing the gardening in his Army issue leather jerkin and an old beret. 
In our current straightened financial times idea is once again important. Why the false economy of spending money on mass-produced items that will fall apart in a few months when by spending marginally more you acquire beautiful things that will likely last you a lifetime?

Frustration with the production quality of the bulk of modern clothing has led me to seek out either very high standard reproduction or authentic vintage items. The guiding principal is that they be made to a standard, not a cost. An idea that has sadly fallen from favour.

Robert Pirsig came close to the mark in attempting to unify the Romantic and Rational schools of philosophy through the idea of perception of Quality. I like the premise that very simple utilitarian objects can possess such beauty as well as being purely functional. And if you know where to look they need not be expensive.

I intend to share what I find with you, everything from my latest selvedge denim project to breaking in a pair of Edwardian era Ammo boots. I apply this idea not just to fashion but also to other areas of my life; where relevant I'll share these with you too.