Fort is the product of North London school friends Cy and Si – fashion and sneaker obsessives since the early 1990s.
Both came up through music – producing, playing in bands, and building a shared creative language that would later translate into clothing. The ambition started early, first taking shape in the school playground, before evolving into something more considered.
“We don’t have any formal design accolades,” says Si. “But we both have a creative background in the sense the original canvas was creating music. One thing Cy was known for at secondary school was his knack for drawing and creating stand out work in Art class even at a young age. He also spent copious amounts of time on pirate radio stations in London.
“I have been producing music since I was a teenager – heavily inspired by the Neptunes – and eventually went on to play bass guitar in a progressive metal band touring the UK,” he adds.
After nearly seven years out of touch, the pair reconnected through a mutual contact. “Since then, we had been seriously toying around with the idea of clothing,” says Si. “Well after secondary school, Cy actually built up a contact list of people as early as 2016 when he took the initiative to make a small run of leather bomber and varsity jackets which were sold to friends and family. Fast forward to 2025 we decided it was time to put our decades of knowledge together to create something new.”
Cy explains “The earliest idea actually came from trying to replace an item Si had bought from a high-end brand, scouring the internet and not being able to find a replacement for his own wardrobe. So we decided there may be an opportunity to create this.
“However, once we started sampling we deviated away from that specific style of item and started following our own design intuition.
“The main goal is to explore colour and textures but make garments which can be worn frequently, but above all we focus on quality.
“We live in a time where everyone can ship a 1,000 printed t-shirts from the far east and become a designer. We want to contribute to the clothing industry in a different way.
“After all the wearer deserves an element of uniqueness and quality without extortionate pricing.”
So what’s in the name?
“The name Fort symbolises many things but mainly the ‘Maison’ where we both curate ideas. It also symbolises strength, wealth of knowledge and safety. People who wear Fort will want to feel safe in the knowledge that the brand is meeting a high standard,” says Si.
With a small, considered collection, Fort produces in batches – allowing the pair to stay close to the process and maintain control over quality.
“Over time, we want to provide more classic silhouettes with a Fort twist and keep delivering further into dyeing techniques. We will also source more unique fabrics. The core of the brand is classic silhouettes which are wearable daily, but elevated by our choice of colours and texture,” adds Cy.
Rather than forcing itself into a defined category, Fort is carving its own lane – something evident in the current collection, particularly the DNA jackets.
“Some of our earlier customers have said we give off CP company and APC vibes, but we collectively beg to differ. Some of the clothes in the catalogue are on opposites of the scale.”
There’s a clear sense of nostalgia at play. Growing up in the 1990s – when things felt slower, more deliberate – informs the brand’s pace. Collections arrive when they’re ready, not when the fashion calendar demands.
“We spend a little bit more on the sample process than larger fashion houses because we want to get things right,” says Si. “We make every garment here in London and watch over the process meticulously. The garments are hand dyed by me individually, giving each piece of fabric a truly bespoke outcome. In a world where so much stuff is carbon copied this adds a broader palette and touch of individuality to the wearer,” he says.
Looking ahead, their ambition is measured rather than manic. Growth, yes – but not at the expense of what makes the brand work.
“Using a ‘cost plus’ pricing strategy, making clothes in London isn’t cheap of course but allows for a really high standard which we can monitor,” says Si. “We acquire all of our fabrics in the UK and source most of the trimmings locally where we can, this pushes manufacturing costs up. However, we still act accordingly when adding a margin to set the prices fair and customers are really happy with our price points for the quality of the British made garment they receive.”
With its blend of lifestyle and preppy influences – and a clear focus on colour and texture – Fort is making familiar pieces feel subtly offbeat. These two fellas are dancing to their own tune – and we’re down for it.
Find out more at fortgarments.com
