Essentials: Marco Cairns of The Duffer of St. George

From its modest origins in 1984 as a vendor of military surplus in London’s Camden market, Marco Cairns has aided The Duffer of St. George in transforming it to a fully distributed lifestyle collection boasting three brick & mortar locations. After years of scouring London for the most sought-after vintage and deadstock goods, ultimately the Duffer crew coined the term “suave head” to describe the eclectic 1960s preppy direction their project had embarked in; English tweeds and flannel, brogue shoes with old school ties. Turning their attention in later years to American sportswear, the range was split in two categories with the “Sports” and “Shield” collections, the latter of which was honed on a smarter look focusing on trousers, button-up shirts and very well-received knitwear. Prior success for the brand in Japan continued to cultivate growth throughout the ’90s, allowing The Duffer of St. George to gain further acclaim in the UK as well as foreign markets. Today, The Duffer can be credited with its own speaker line, collaborations with Karrimor Jackets, Clarks Originals and Nokia, while continuing to emphasize the most relevant classic and heritage pieces from the brand’s catalog in each seasonal collection.

Marcus was able to spare some time away from perusing vintage British racing cars and designing Duffer’s latest international collection to enlighten us on the brand’s history, as well as share some of his daily Essentials. Reflecting an astute level of taste entirely on par for an individual as immersed in the world of vintage as Marcus, a pair of hard-wearing deadstock Chippewa boots and canvas RRL rucksack are amongst our favorites, with some reading material and even a riding stirrup included in the mix.