University mates left their jobs to start a £3m fashion business loved by stars

Two go-getting entrepreneurs have opened up about their incredible rise from the daily grind of 9 to 5 to creating a booming £3m fashion empire that's caught the eye of celebs like Top Boy star Ashley Walters and funnyman Romesh Ranganathan.

Just a couple of years back, Julian Osborne, who worked in brand management, and Sam Mantle, an operations manager, decided to ditch their day jobs and set up Batch LDN.

The dynamic duo, both 28, first crossed paths at uni and quickly became mates, united by their love for hitting the clubs. They were both eager beavers, ready to graft in their early days to make sure they had a solid future ahead.

Fast forward to today, and they've turned their vision into a smashing success.

BATCH LDN is all about dishing out stylish, long-lasting suits that don't break the bank but still champion sustainability. While your typical high-end suit might set you back a cool £800, Julian and Sam are shaking things up with price tags starting at a more wallet-friendly £395.

"From a young age, I had a passion and interest in fashion," shared Julian, the co-founder originally from Newcastle, who's now living the dream in London.

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Julian added: "I went through all the typical teenage stages: from dressing in an emo-style with skinny red jeans and Vans; to wearing Topman buttoned-up polo shirts."

“I always wanted to spend more on clothes but with a children’s budget – which isn’t very much – I had to dress as interesting as I could within my own means. Being able to manifest this passion into a career is a dream come true."

"People doubted us in the early stages, questioning if there was a market for our brand. But you’ll always meet people like that and what truly matters is how you manage those opinions.”

While Julian was a fashion savant from an early age, Sam, on the other hand, dreamt of becoming an F1 driver and, as he grew older, running his own company.

The entrepreneurial pair embarked on their venture with self-funding, pooling savings and securing modest loans from relatives, including contributions from Sam's father and Julian's grandmother.

However, the journey wasn't without its hurdles, they had to secure a production partner capable of crafting the suits and a designer who was able to actualise their vision.

He confessed: "I was a bit worried about setting up a business with one of my best friends, but we balance each other out so well. Sam is more of a thinker and I'm more of a doer. Our close relationship has also made us more accountable for our actions."

"It's harder to be a s**t friend than a s**t colleague having this respect for one another feeds into the business."

Explaining why they decided to produce suits, Julian remarked: "The traditional suit has become outdated. Our goal was to create a product that solves the problem of what to wear when you want to look good."

"We've all been there; wardrobe paralysis is a real thing. This is a suit you know you're going to get compliments on and it's more affordable."

"Sam and I wouldn't have considered ourselves conscious shoppers before but we wanted to also facilitate a way for people like us to shop more sustainably."

"It's not always a strong enough motivating factor to buy clothes so we've combined this factor alongside price and quality."

Batch LDN's suits are tailored to order, promising a delivery period of up to eight weeks. However, the entrepreneuring pair argue that this business model cuts down on waste, overproduction, and unsold inventory.

They insist that the savings made from their efficient production process allows them to offer their products at a more wallet-friendly price point.

Right now, they serve a diverse clientele ranging from 17 to 70 years old, conducting sales online and through their flagship store. Set your sights on London's Covent Garden because that's where they're moving soon.

For this financial year, the figures are sparkling as they expect to hit £400,000 in revenue their most impressive earnings yet and they're broadening Batch's repertoire with a new collection of overcoats.

Looking ahead, they're set on breaking into the American market while evolving their staple line-up and boosting their team of five.

Julian also dished out some pearls of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs: "Make sure your business is solving a problem and has a good story behind it."

"If you have the resources, just go for it but having experience of working under people first is important. Be patient and don't expect success to happen overnight."

"If Batch LDN was to fail tomorrow, I'm delighted with how far we've taken it already, that I wouldn't be upset. Work doesn't have to be the be all and end all just learn to enjoy life and not take it too seriously success can fit in around you."

"We're just getting started."