Welcome to 'Origin of Species', where I reveal the inspirations and creation myths behind your favourite headwear pieces. First up is the story of our Hulme cap.
They say that every journey begins with a single step and in this tale the first step is one meandering around Manchester City centre. Central Library is always worth a visit and on this particular day it was hosting a small exhibition of photographs by Richard Davis. Davis came to Manchester in 1988 as a photography student and lived in the Hulme Crescents during their decline/cultural naissance. Davis photographed those around him, including squatters, new age travellers, comedians and musicians.
One of the photographs on display was a portrait of Anderson 'Dangerous' Hinds, one third of UK rap group The Ruthless Rap Assassins. In the image, Mr Hinds was wearing a Nike cap in a style I'd never come across. It looked like a standard six panel baseball cap but with a curved front panel. And there it was. The spark. A challenge to recreate this exotic shape.
After much experimentation I arrived at the final cap. A seven panel cap reminiscent of that worn by Anderson Hinds in Richard Davis' photo but with full Long Shot DNA. To launch the cap I needed a name or title. Long Shot products have names that are abstract enough to mean nothing but always nod to the influences or vibe that inspired the initial idea. So, the Hulme cap was born, inspired by an area, officially abandoned by Manchester Council, that produced so much of the creativity and culture that still resonates in the city and beyond today.
But that's not the end of the Hulme cap's story.
In 2024 I was approached by Mat Bickley, Brand Director of Gloverall. Mat was looking to collaborate with small, British makers to produce pieces 'renewing' deadstock Gloverall fabrics. Gloverall sits in the pantheon of 'Classic British Menswear' and our initial conversations discussed products that would align with Gloverall's classic pieces while also telling other stories of Britishness. Now, a year later in 2025 when the abstract idea of 'British values' are increasingly politicised and weaponised, it is clear that Mat's was a timely and important idea. You can shop the Renewed Hulme Cap here.
You can read an interview I did with Mat for the 'Friends of Gloverall' series here. We discuss the cap, our collaboration and ways of working. Accompanied by some fantastic images by my good friend Marc Provins, you can see the Thompson Varsity Jacket from Gloverall's latest collection. Named for the legendary Daley Thompson. If I close my eyes I can see Daley draped in the Union flag, medals hanging from his neck and that iconic moustache. A powerful and postive image of Britishness.
Image credits -
Title image clockwise from top left; 'Anderson Hinds' by Richard Davis, 'Hulme, Manchester, 1970s' by David Chadwick via British Culture Archive, Siobhan Corbin for Gloverall, and 'Ruthless Rap Assassins' by Ian Tilton via MDMA Archive.
Leon Cerrone for Gloverall.
Mike Holmes by Marc Provins.