Labour and Wait founders Rachel Wythe-Moran and Simon Watkins are rolling up their sleeves to keep beloved British label Old Town in circulation. And on March 21 and 22, the London retailer will host a two-day event at its newest Covent Garden store to launch three limited-edition unisex garments: a jacket, shirt and trousers.
Old Town – which launched in 1992 selling homewares, enamelware, linen and work clothing – built a cult following for its commitment to quality. In 1994, the pair decided to concentrate solely on clothing, and as their fanbase grew, they began employing local machinists to keep up with the demand.
When Labour and Wait set up shop in east London in 2000, Old Town fit seamlessly into the shop’s roster of high-quality, functional objects and garments. “Both brands share a deep respect for thoughtful design, durability and clothing made for longevity rather than to follow trends, so the partnership has always felt very natural,” Watkins and Wythe-Moran tell Broadsheet.
In 2023, Willey and Brown considered moving away from the day-to-day demands of producing the garments themselves. To ensure the brand could keep manufacturing in the UK, Labour and Wait stepped in to take on production of the styles it stocks. “It allows Will and Marie the freedom to move to London [from Norfolk] and step away from the practical side of manufacturing, while knowing that the future of Old Town’s clothing remains in safe hands,” the pair explains.
Old Town’s core styles will now be made in north London, including the denim Crossover apron-style dress and the Unity jacket and trousers, a relaxed set with a drawcord waist that is now staff uniform at east London restaurant Brat.
On top of the regular collection, Old Town and Labour and Wait have collaborated on three limited edition unisex styles, which will continue to be produced in Old Town’s original home of Holt, Norfolk.
The three pieces – a jacket, shirt and trousers – will launch this weekend (March 21 and 22) at a one-off event in Labour and Wait’s Covent Garden store, which opened at the end of 2025. Here, fans can meet Willey and Brown, browse the collection, watch a short film about Old Town and look at archival ephemera tracing the brand’s history including original mail order catalogues.
Each piece reflects the same thinking that guides the wider collection, with durable fabrics, straightforward construction and designs rooted in traditional workwear.
“These garments haven’t really changed for decades because the designs simply work,” they explain. “There’s an ease to it – workwear pieces tend to be simple, well-cut and unfussy, which means they’re very easy to wear and style.”
Labour and Wait’s Old Town event will run from March 21 to 22 at 12 Dryden Street, WC2 9NE.
