Attire Accessories - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 77)

96 Tell me a bit about how the label was started. What was the inspiration, etc? The Troop London range was started in 2004, when we had a few shops in London and we were experimenting on different styles and trends within the accessories market. Canvas crossbody bags were just emerging as a new trend, which was lucky for us, and we decided to go full on and have a large production made overseas. This directed us into the wholesale market, and the rest is history. How were the initial products developed, and what was the response? We were working very closely with a large, top-end, international leather goods factory and noticed they had quite a bit of surplus trimmings after making a full leather bag. We decided to utilise the leather trims on to our first Troop canvas designed bags. This allowed us to use the expert skills of the factory to maintain top-quality workmanship, high-end materials and come in at a great price for our customers – everything seemed to click into place quite nicely. What challenges did you face, and how were they overcome when starting the business? Cash flow is always a problem when launching any new collection, but I guess the one main thing is controlling how the product evolves both in design and quality control. Unfortunately, all the small problems that crop up ultimately end up costing you a little bit each time, but you learn as you go along, and the Troop range benefits from this long term. What is it that sets you apart from your competitors? The great thing I always hear from my competitors when they are selling to retailers is, “It’s just like a Troop bag.” I take this as the ultimate compliment, as it shows we are the leaders in luxury canvas bags. A lot of companies have tried to mimic what we have achieved, but as yet no one has matched our wide choice, price and quality. How important is the location and history of the company to its success? It is vitally important to us that our products are designed and developed in London. The UK has always been a world leader in design, and as we have so many international customers, it is really important that when we say Troop London customers know that when they visit or contact us, it will be at our West London showroom. How has the product offering changed since you started, and how would you describe your current collection? It’s funny, but some of the products that have been going since day one are still going, although they’ve been tweaked and improved in many areas over the years. Each season, we try to be incredibly innovative with the practicality of our bags while retaining the vintage look that is Troop London’s market signature. How often do you launch new lines? We launch our new collections once a year.