Sustainability by Pandas

Brothers, Oliver and James Slacke, are looking to nature for solutions to our growing need for sustainable fashion. Their brand, Swole Panda, produces surprisingly smooth and soft apparel made from bamboo. Their style references the classic 1950s but in a modern fit. James hopped on a call with me recently to tell me more about the brothers’ plans for their emerging label.

This was your first time at LFWM, what was that experience like?
We really jumped into the deep end; we’d never even walked through the space before. We got a really good response! Met quite a few magazines and bloggers. We got featured in Menswear Buyer, which is a great industry publication to be seen in. Many people had not heard of bamboo clothing before. No one had done high-end bamboo shirts before so that drew a lot of attention. As did our sunglasses; those went down very well – possibly even better than the clothing. Everyone loved the Morpheus style, and the Clubmasters. We’re likely going to return this summer.

The Clubmaster.

“Serious question” – If all this bamboo is going into Swole Panda products, what’s left for the pandas in the wild?
Okay, let me give you the rundown! There are roughly one thousand different species of bamboo. We use Moso bamboo, which is not one of the species that pandas eat. It’s the same bamboo used for scaffolding in China and other commercial uses; it’s not eaten by pandas. We care about preserving the panda for future generations. For every item sold we donate to Pandas International which helps protect the panda.

That was meant as joke but you actually had a very good answer for it.
Trust me, it’s because I get that question so often! Everyone’s like, “Oh my goodness! So you’re taking the panda’s food?” I like to give them a clear explanation; the pandas are still eating.

The Morpheus.

Do you have mentors who have guided you as young entrepreneurs?
Not really. It’s been Oliver and I bouncing ideas off each other and learning as we go. Oliver was learning about the sustainability of bamboo whilst at Kings College and the idea really stuck with him. We began selling through our instagram account. We decided that we needed to get input from retailers so we met with them and learned from them. We’re not afraid to ask for critiques and advice. Before full-production we asked the retailers and our agent for feedback on our designs. Oliver and I took this info and determined what changes to make and what to keep. We listen and ask questions. That’s how we do it.

What are you most proud of with this company?
LFWM and being featured in GQ. Those are the two proudest moments because our designs were recognized by such respected platforms. But also the very first sample of our sunglasses is a proud moment; it was the first part of our journey.

What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The biggest thing has been to listen and ask questions. Listen to the market and your retailers. We get advice from people in the industry with 30 years experience and really consider it. But sometimes it’s still best to evaluate the advice yet follow your gut instinct.

Polo shirts with bamboo fabric and buttons.

How are you planning to grow the business?
We have plans to expand our retail presence by 200% by the end of the year. We’d also like to develop a strong relationship with one flagship retailer who will really stand by our brand and carry it in most, if not all, of their stores. We’re launching three new styles of sunglasses this summer. In the coming years we’d like to have a few sunglass styles that become recognizable as Swole Panda, similar to the way Wayfarers are recognized as Ray Bans; we’re still early in the process but we are planning to introduce a full line of clothing including jeans; and finally we’d love to open our own storefront.

As you introduce new products, will sustainable materials continue to be a staple of your brand?
We will always include bamboo in our products, and when we blend materials those too will be sustainable.

How do you relax?
I have to say that the business does start to take over your life. But I really enjoy going to a pub with my mates. I also start the day by going to the gym which makes me start the day right.

Thank you for your time James! I wish you continued success! To see more from Swole Panda visit their website, or browse their Instagram.