Hanging Out With… Adrian Gordon
If you’ve visited our Shoreditch home - Browns East - then you’ve probably had the pleasure of meeting Adrian Gordon, our Store Experience Manager, resident style icon and one of the heads of our ROTA (Representation On The Agenda) committee; an internal network celebrating the breadth of communities within the Browns family and industry.
Giving us a peek into his (very) stylish world, Adrian tells us about everything from what's on his new season Wishlist to what's in his fridge...
Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
I live in Stratford East Village. I’ve been living here for a year now, and I love this neighbourhood.
How would you describe your style?
I think my style varies quite a bit, I can go from all black to super colourful, or from very casual to very formal. The one constant is my jewellery. I also like to wear new designers and smaller brands, and I’m always looking for unique pieces to add to my wardrobe.
Is there someone whose style inspires you or who had a formative influence on you?
Dapper Dan. He's an icon in New York. I loved the influence he had on fashion and hip-hop. When I was young I would see the hip-hop stars wearing Dapper Dan custom pieces, and I thought he was a genius.
Would you say your interior aesthetic and your sartorial aesthetic are the same?
No, not at all. I like to keep the aesthetic of my home minimal, whereas I think my sartorial aesthetic is the exact opposite - I often wear colourful shirts, and big jewellery. My rings are usually the things that people comment on the most. My partner chose a lot of the furniture in our home - she has very good taste when it comes to interior design. My contribution was the pool table and oversized TV (which she isn’t a big fan of!).
What was your route into fashion?
When I was young and would spend time in Manhattan, I would be inspired by the people I saw and their unique sense of style. I always loved fashion and being able to express myself through what I wore. I didn’t study fashion at university, but I knew I wanted to be in the industry. I started as a stylist and personal shopper, then began working in fashion retail.
When did you join Browns and what does your day-to-day look like?
I started at Browns in January of 2020. My day usually starts with a morning briefing with my store team, then my day is filled with meetings with various internal and external stakeholders. I work on strategies to drive trade and improve customer experience, and I also spend time coaching and developing my team.
What are your favourite bits of the job?
The people I work with; not just in the stores but in our offices. I’ve met some amazing people and everyone is so down to earth and approachable.
Can you tell us a bit about ROTA and your work with them?
We started ROTA as a community and safe space to empower our Black and POC employees. It has since evolved into an inclusive community focused on allyship and representation. We’ve set up mentorship programs, supported external POC charitable organisations, worked on Diversity & Inclusion training, and created events and content to celebrate diverse communities.
We’ve also recently partnered with Fashion Minority Report on their learning hub platform which provides learning resources to underrepresented groups, so they can learn and develop skills linked to the fashion industry. As part of our Browns Focus initiative, we’re currently working with HOME by Ronan Mckenzie on a panel discussion. We will also be hosting a series of table talks, featuring internal and external community members.
How do your surroundings influence your style?
Living in a big city like London definitely has an influence on my style. When I'm out I always see people who inspire me, either with specific pieces or the way they put things together. My home also influences my style, as it’s sort of a social hub for my friendship group, and since we do a lot of hosting, I like to have fits ready for those occasions as well.
Tell us about your upbringing. Where was your first home and what influence did it have on you?
I lived in Guyana when I was a kid, then moved to New York when I was 12 years old. Growing up in Guyana had a massive influence on me. I’ve always loved nature because I grew up around a lot of animals and rainforests, so moving to a big city was a huge adjustment. Guyana and New York were both challenging places to grow up, so I think they both made me tougher.
What is your favourite home away from home?
My home away from home is anywhere where there is good food (laughs). I spend a lot of time at my Aunt’s house because she always makes sure I’m well fed.
What books do you have on your bookshelves? Any favourites?
I have a few photography books - I love photography. My favourite would be Equilibrium by Tobi Shinobi. I love his style of photography; it’s all architectural shots, and he always finds the best angles from some amazing locations. He also has an excellent sense of symmetry.
What’s on your Wishlist this season?
There's some great pieces from Bethany Williams as part of our Browns Focus series that I've got my eyes on.
If you could have anyone walk through the door at Browns, who would it be?
Rihanna - not only is she an amazing talent but she has amazing style, and seems really authentic. I'd love to talk to her and style her.
What do you always have in your fridge?
I put ketchup on almost everything, so I always have to have a bottle of ketchup in my fridge.
Who would be your dream dinner party guest and why?
My dream dinner party guest would be Dave Chappelle. I’m a big fan of his, I think he’s very interesting and would love to sit and have a chat with him. I think his comedy is very intelligent and he’s often misunderstood.
What’s your favourite local haunt?
I love the East Village, there’s a lot of great restaurants and bars around here. I guess my favourite would be an Italian restaurant called Santi - great pizza, great pasta and great drinks.
Photography by Jonathan Middleton
Interview by Georgia Graham
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