Back in 1816 in Liverpool, during the city’s industrial heyday, John Peck & Co founded Pexwear; a label which would become a go-to workwear brand for warehouse workers, engineers and craftspeople across the country for the next 150 years. After closing in the ’70s during the country’s industrial decline, it relaunched in October 2025 – and yesterday, opened a bricks-and-mortar store in Shoreditch.
Its revival is largely thanks to Cathal McAteer, founder of Folk Clothing, and Domingo Rodriguez, the London-based, Liverpool-born designer who has developed the collection.
With workwear-inspired fashion at its peak, and a heightened collective awareness of the environmental cost of fast fashion, bringing back a label championing durable, functional clothing seems destined to do well. Shoreditch also felt like a natural home for Pexwear, explains Rodriguez.
“The area has a strong connection to creativity, craftsmanship and independent culture, which fits perfectly with the people we design for,” he says. “Being surrounded by makers, studios, restaurants and small businesses made it feel right for the brand.”
The store feels like a workshop, as opposed to a traditional store. In its centre is a reclaimed wooden work bench; garments hang from custom metal fixtures by wood- and metal-worker David B Ross. Arranged by colour, there are deep-pocketed khaki Craftsmans Trousers, denim aprons and – Rodriguez’s favourite – the Tradesman Chore Jacket. “It’s such a timeless staple, but we wanted ours to feel distinctly Pexwear through the relaxed fit, signature pocket detail and washed cotton twill fabric,” he says.
The signature pocket detail in question? When delving into the original Pexwear garments to design the collection, Rodriguez was particularly taken by an angled chest pocket on a pair of Pexwear dungarees. “We’ve used it across the jackets as a bit of a signature detail,” he explains.
“The original pieces also had quirks like curved fly details, branded hardware and tool pockets, so we brought some of those through into the jackets and trousers too.”
While Rodriguez wanted to stay true to the Pexwear aesthetic, he also took care to run his designs through a “modern workwear lens,” reinterpreting them into “relaxed, functional shapes”.
“We’ve just launched a new denim version [of the Tradesman Chore Jacket], made in what we’ve been calling a ‘London-weight’ denim. It’s substantial enough to feel durable, but still soft and wearable for in-between temperatures and everyday layering.”
In just over six months, Pexwear has garnered an impressive fan base. The brand has made bespoke pieces for the likes of Jon Rotheram, chef-owner at Hackney Road pub The Marksman, Koya co-founder Shuko Oda and artist Anthony Burrill. It’s also created custom uniforms for the teams at The George pub, Kaffeine coffee, and, most recently, Cafe Jikoni at the new V&A East Museum.
“We created custom pieces in our garment-dyed Pexwear blue with [Jikoni’s] multicoloured embroidered logos, and we worked locally with Imprint Works King’s Cross who did a fantastic job bringing those embroideries to life,” says Rodriguez.
“It felt like a perfect example of the brand being worn in a real working environment by creative people with a strong identity and personality.”
Pexwear
100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ.
Hours:
Wed to Fri 10.30am–6.30pm
Sat 10am–6pm
Sun midday–5pm
