From The Spoiler Of A Porsche

WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE WILKS OVERSHIRT APPROACHING, WE WENT TO CORNWALL TO GIVE THE DESIGN A FINAL SHAKE-DOWN.

I've known Ernie for a long time; we've been working closely together for the past two years. He lends his experience and helps to shape the business while I focus on design. If we're not talking about clothes and travel, the conversation quickly turns to bikes and cars. It's a lot of fun.

For Ernie, it's always been about Porsches. He keeps his 993 stock and only uses OEM parts. It's not a show pony though - every year he and his wife, Marissa, catch the ferry over to France in search of low-intervention vineyards, filling the back seat with bottles as they go.

Those trips and that wine turned into a passion. It's easy to see how. Last year, Ernie converted the ground floor of his sail loft into a bar. It's called The Neighbourhood and has a great vibe. It was recently featured in The Times; build it, and they will come...

Ernie lives in Cornwall, I'm in Somerset. Video calls only go so far, and with the launch of the Wilks Overshirt approaching, it was time for a trip down to Penryn.

Nothing beats a decent glass of wine after a few hours behind the wheel, and so on arrival, we settled in to try a few bottles - a great way to kick things off. Alex Natt was along to take photos and help with tasting. We'll remember to get him in front of the camera next time; for now, you'll have to take my word... he's a handsome man.

The sun was out the following morning; we took the 993 around to a local bakery for coffee and pastries. Our plan was to talk through some of the designs that I'd been working on. It was too nice to stay inside, and Ernie had the inspired idea of using the spoiler as a makeshift table. Productivity increased by 23%. Our conclusion... Porsche spoilers are more effective than office break-out spaces. Whoever invented the break-out space needs to drive a Porsche. So does the person who invented stand-up desks.

Suitably caffeinated, it was time to move on. We made our way along the south coast to Newlyn, stopping off at St Michael's Mount... just because. Our target for lunch was Argoe - a seafood restaurant that's been on my list for a while.

Newlyn's working harbour has helped to preserve its identity as a fishing town. It's not just for tourists; it's not a postcard; it's a real place with all of the character that industrial fishing brings. For Rich Adams (chef and founder), it's important that Argoe reflects this in its identity.

He and his brother built the restaurant (literally) in 2021. As with all great projects, they finished the night before they opened - imagine how good that must have felt. It’s in an amazing spot, overlooking the harbour and the small day boats that supply the fish. The menu changes daily and reflects the diversity of what’s caught. It’s hard to find fresher fish. A nose-to-tail approach reduces waste and uses parts of the fish that are often overlooked, but hold most of the flavour - as we were about to find out.

Sustainability is important to Rich. That said, he isn't the sort of person to stand on a soapbox. He understands that the vital move towards smaller boats will take time and the importance of safeguarding the communities that fishing supports. A refreshing view from someone who's put in the effort to fully understand the challenges facing this industry.

Rich's overarching idea for Argoe is to recreate the experiences he's had travelling - eating fresh fish, cooked simply, in the port where it's caught. When he explained that, I knew it would be a lunch that I'd remember. As you can imagine, everything we tried was incredible; it'd been a long time since I'd tasted seafood this good. The standouts for me were the smoked whiting roe and grilled scallops.

Moving the plates to one side, we were sluggish as we looked at the details of the Wilks Overshirt. Both Ernie and I are really happy with the way this design has turned out. Checks complete, we couldn't resist taking the Porsche onto the docks for a few pics. Mission complete... a short, brilliant trip. Business and pleasure.

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CLOTHING: WILKS OVERSHIRT

From The Spoiler Of A Porsche

WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE WILKS OVERSHIRT APPROACHING, WE WENT TO CORNWALL TO GIVE THE DESIGN A FINAL SHAKE-DOWN.

I've known Ernie for a long time; we've been working closely together for the past two years. He lends his experience and helps to shape the business while I focus on design. If we're not talking about clothes and travel, the conversation quickly turns to bikes and cars. It's a lot of fun.

For Ernie, it's always been about Porsches. He keeps his 993 stock and only uses OEM parts. It's not a show pony though - every year he and his wife, Marissa, catch the ferry over to France in search of low-intervention vineyards, filling the back seat with bottles as they go.

Those trips and that wine turned into a passion. It's easy to see how. Last year, Ernie converted the ground floor of his sail loft into a bar. It's called The Neighbourhood and has a great vibe. It was recently featured in The Times; build it, and they will come...

Ernie lives in Cornwall, I'm in Somerset. Video calls only go so far, and with the launch of the Wilks Overshirt approaching, it was time for a trip down to Penryn.

Nothing beats a decent glass of wine after a few hours behind the wheel, and so on arrival, we settled in to try a few bottles - a great way to kick things off. Alex Natt was along to take photos and help with tasting. We'll remember to get him in front of the camera next time; for now, you'll have to take my word... he's a handsome man.

The sun was out the following morning; we took the 993 around to a local bakery for coffee and pastries. Our plan was to talk through some of the designs that I'd been working on. It was too nice to stay inside, and Ernie had the inspired idea of using the spoiler as a makeshift table. Productivity increased by 23%. Our conclusion... Porsche spoilers are more effective than office break-out spaces. Whoever invented the break-out space needs to drive a Porsche. So does the person who invented stand-up desks.

Suitably caffeinated, it was time to move on. We made our way along the south coast to Newlyn, stopping off at St Michael's Mount... just because. Our target for lunch was Argoe - a seafood restaurant that's been on my list for a while.

Newlyn's working harbour has helped to preserve its identity as a fishing town. It's not just for tourists; it's not a postcard; it's a real place with all of the character that industrial fishing brings. For Rich Adams (chef and founder), it's important that Argoe reflects this in its identity.

He and his brother built the restaurant (literally) in 2021. As with all great projects, they finished the night before they opened - imagine how good that must have felt. It’s in an amazing spot, overlooking the harbour and the small day boats that supply the fish. The menu changes daily and reflects the diversity of what’s caught. It’s hard to find fresher fish. A nose-to-tail approach reduces waste and uses parts of the fish that are often overlooked, but hold most of the flavour - as we were about to find out.

Sustainability is important to Rich. That said, he isn't the sort of person to stand on a soapbox. He understands that the vital move towards smaller boats will take time and the importance of safeguarding the communities that fishing supports. A refreshing view from someone who's put in the effort to fully understand the challenges facing this industry.

Rich's overarching idea for Argoe is to recreate the experiences he's had travelling - eating fresh fish, cooked simply, in the port where it's caught. When he explained that, I knew it would be a lunch that I'd remember. As you can imagine, everything we tried was incredible; it'd been a long time since I'd tasted seafood this good. The standouts for me were the smoked whiting roe and grilled scallops.

Moving the plates to one side, we were sluggish as we looked at the details of the Wilks Overshirt. Both Ernie and I are really happy with the way this design has turned out. Checks complete, we couldn't resist taking the Porsche onto the docks for a few pics. Mission complete... a short, brilliant trip. Business and pleasure.

---

CLOTHING: WILKS OVERSHIRT