Boutique Confidential
The world of fashion is fast-paced and always changing – a turntable of trends, a furore of fads – but through the changing seasons, there are some things which never seem to go out of style. This timelessness is at the heart of what Lissom & Muster is all about.
Owner John Rogers was inspired to start up the business out of his love of horse-riding and the great outdoors. He remains motivated by products created with the utmost care, skill, passion and precision – products which are built to last. But durability is only one consideration. Aesthetics is another. Whether it’s a pair of hardy leather riding boots or a tweed rucksack, a stag horn wading staff or a Shetland knit sweater, there is a fusion of elegance and utility in every item.
Lissom & Muster operated exclusively online for three years but, keen to give his customers the chance to see the products up close, John opened the Manchester boutique on Tib Lane – hidden away just off Cross Street – last autumn. A lot of painstaking work was undertaken to merge the two floors together, and to expose and retain original features, such as the stone steps leading down into the store, and the tiled fireplace.
Nature, and man’s relationship to it, takes centre stage – from the small selection of books on display, to the array of hiking and riding boots (for men and women), to woollen picnic rugs and silk ties, emblazoned with tiny horses and stag heads.
There is an emphasis on British heritage: beautiful silk pocket squares made in Macclesfield; luxuriously soft cashmere sweaters spun in England and hand-frame knitted in Wales; canvas cooler bags lined with Cumbrian Herdwyck wool. Some French, Scandinavian and German brands feature, but first and foremost, many of the materials here are locally sourced, born from the very landscapes in which they are meant to be used.
Lissom & Muster predominantly caters to anyone who is passionate about the outdoors, especially those who appreciate timeless, traditional pursuits – equestrians, anglers, hunters and hikers. As many items are commissioned specially, it is also the perfect place to pick up a special gift for the discerning gentleman or woman. The silk pocket squares, for example, can be embossed with a name or initials, while the woollen sweaters can be made bespoke in other sizes and shades.
Those that count themselves among the “elegantly intrepid” are sure to find something to cherish.
Lissom & Muster, 14 Tib Lane, Manchester, M2 4JA
lissomandmuster.com 49 words and images by Alaka Prodhan Lissom & Muster
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