The Pride & Clarke clothing and accessories archive is what we heavily reference when producing items for the label today, P&Cs significant place in the history of men’s style provides endless inspiration.

The rockers and greasers, even the mods who hung out at the P&C showrooms are well documented in films like Chelsea Bridge Boys and all the bikes and motorcycle clothing in the 1964 film The Leather Boys came from P&C- the clothing worn is a mixture of brands P&C sold not just the P&C label. But, P&C was a hive for motor and motorcycling enthusiasts way before the youth culture movements of the 50s, 60s & 70s moved in and P&C’s Red Panther Motorcycle is a magnificent example of motorcycling style pre The Wild One.

In the 1930s P&C produced its very own British made motorcycle with Phelon & Moore Ltd and called it the Red Panther in line with the shade of red the P&C (Stockwell, London) showrooms were famously painted and perhaps most memorable from the Michelangelo Antonioni film Blow Up.

The graphics used to promote the Red Panther in the 1930s is a particular inspiration for the label today and we were reminded recently of how good the panther head looks in print when neighbors John Croft & Mick Briggs from the East Midlands, both over 70 and keen motorcyclists sent us a selection of handbooks and pamphlets from a Panther purchased from Pride & Clarke in 1935. Mick rediscovered them during a recent clear out, here are a few pics:

SHOP

P&C Sweatshirt with Red Panther artwork in black velvet flocking

The studded belts worn by the rockers and greasers who met-up and congregated in and outside of the Pride & Clarke showrooms throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s are what our Galaxy Belt design is based on.

A free-form design of gold and chrome studs in various sizes, studded to the best quality belt leather and made here in London, England.

Now a stylish accessory, worn as an everyday item, day or night, for many years the studded belt in Britain was considered a weapon for fighting and to wear one was menacing and threatening! The idea that a belt proved you were a threat to society was a real thing (the same was believed of studded wristbands, see article at bottom of page), right up until the mid-1970s when post punk everyone from kids to fashion editors started wearing them.

P&C produced and sold a variety of leather belts, when during the 1950s and 1960s rockers and greasers would hand stud their belts, usually quite naively and roughly. We’ve produced the 'Galaxy' design in reference to the hand studded history and free creativity of these belts (those wanting to be truly menacing would stud nails into the leather for that extra punch!)

1963- Rockers outside Pride & Clarke in Stockwell, London. Photo: Roger Mayne

Our signature square (antique) buckle is a heavy and durable design influenced by belts we have in our archive from both P&C and The London Leatherman. We advise all of our customer to take the time to measure their waist before ordering and order to your exact measurement so that our belts fit you as all good belts should, with minimal overhang.

The Galaxy Belt £125. With matching D-ring accessory for your keys and wallet chain.

With the many cultural and design cross-overs between Pride & Clarke and The London Leatherman today we produce the The Galaxy Belt under both labels.

Weapons or decoration? Article from 1976. Mr. Gower wearing 2x The London Leatherman LW3 Wristbands of which he was arrested for.

There’s more about the Galaxy Belt here: Dave Carroll on Instagram: “How it came about! Vol.2”