I’ve never really been one for ‘branded’ goods. I don’t know if my parents were true ‘canny’ Scots when it came to money, or just plain tight, but I could never compete with the other kids when it came to having the latest and supposedly best clothes and toys.

I’m not complaining, and I’m not jealous or bitter – having a supposed pair of leather monkey boots that melted when I tried drying them out in front of the fire was … character building, let’s say. (I had to wear those babies, with rivulets of re-solidified plastic, until the soles wore out. I tell you, I’ve never walked so much and so furiously all my life!) 😀

However, I am complaining when it came to food. My parents would shop at one of new, wonderful supermarkets where you were supposedly able to buy just about anything under the sun.

So why, then, did they opt to buy said supermarket’s own, discounted ‘Yellow Label’ food? It was cheap … and pretty nasty. There was no substitute. I either ate it or went hungry. Is it just a coincidence of timing that I never grew past five feet, four (and a quarter) inches? I don’t think so.

Anyway, the lesson I learned at an early age was that I could live without ‘branded’ goods. And I did. For most of my adult life I’ve never felt ‘I could die for that …. ‘ (I know that sounds ultra camp, but you know what I mean. 😉 )

Until, that is, these past couple of years, when my record and CD collection pointed me in the direction of Trojan Records.

The ska / reggae / dub section was expanding and within that, I was drawn more to the sounds from Trojan than other labels. I then found they had a clothing line; one that reflected the fashions of late ’60s and early ’70s UK.

With me being a ’70s lad, very much stuck in that era according to my wife, the Trojan catalogue is right up my street. It’s not only the wide range of clothing they cater for, it’s the quality. I have no other shirts or jeans in my wardrobe that match those of Trojan’s standards.

I hesitate to say I have any ‘style’ as such, but I do love the look, and you know what? I’ve never really cared what others think … though I do think my Dr Martens shoes and boots are a more natural match for Trojan clothing than a pair of melted plastic monkey boots.

I may not have the perfect look for Vogue Magazine … ‘Vague’ maybe. But anyway – here you go.

**(I buy my Trojan attire through the wonderful online service of Ska & Soul.) **

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