In May 2021, Hamish Peddie did something old -fashioned- it seems new again, and that is opening a physical shop SALVO (@salvostorehk IG), in Hong Kong. Born in Scotland, Mr. Peddie got rid of his previous corporate consulting life and instead embraced his new life at SALVO, and that is being Hong Kong’s go-to a purveyor of sustainable and eco-friendly menswear that doesn't scream “fashion” or “label whore”, but instead says, “Hey, that Dude really cleans up well, takes care of himself, and is pretty stylish!” Sums me and my sensibilities up at least.

Hamish Peddie, founder of SALVO — “The shop’s name came from the phrase ‘Opening Salvo’, which is generally the first statement made when someone is looking to get their point across to an audience/debate.” - Hamish Peddie of SALVO

Relaxed - wears well from beach to business at SALVO

Saye shoes made of Vegan and Recycled Leather

According to Mr. Peddie, “SALVO focusses on sustainable-led brands that put conscious sourcing, materials and production at the forefront of their ethos. We are bringing independent brands to Hong Kong and giving men greater choice when it comes to high-quality, considered fashion.” Brands include Alex Crane from the US, Saye (vegan and reycled leather shoes) from Spain, Fields from South Africa, Idioma from the UK, Olow- designed in France and manufactured in the Braga region of Portugal. Check out our interview together below.

Ana, Hamish Peddie’s partner and founder of Maha Yogi wears also offered and available at SALVO.

JJ: Salvo - the name comes from what inspiration?

Hamish Peddie: The name came from the phrase "Opening Salvo", which is generally the first statement made when someone is looking to get their point across to an audience/debate. Whether we like to admit it or not, fashion choices are often the first statement we make when we walk out of the house, into work or into social situations and can have a big impact on how we feel ourselves, and how people initially see us.

JJ: What made you get into the fashion and men's Fashion space?

HP: I've always been passionate about fashion as a consumer but have rarely ventured into the world of high-end designer labels when buying clothes for myself. I've spent a lot of time travelling and living in different countries in the last 10-12 years and one of my favourite things to do is to seek out beautiful boutiques in new cities. If you walk around Tokyo, San Francisco or London there are a lot of independent stores filled with character but maybe this is less prevalent in Hong Kong at the moment. I started to think about it more seriously when visiting a boutique in Istanbul a few years ago, and the atmosphere and curation of that store inspired me to consider a life after my previous corporate jobs. My girlfriend Ana has worked in fashion for many years and inspired me to finally take the plunge at the beginning of this year. We've worked closely together on making it a reality since then.

JJ: What do you think is missing in HK and Asia in terms of offerings for mens Fashion?

HP: As I mentioned before, I think that choice is slightly more limited in Hong Kong in particular, perhaps as a result of the high rent prices in the city and the uncertainty involved in any new retail venture. This leads to the market leaning more towards either the large fast-fashion brands, or the luxury designer segment.

Sustainable fashion has lagged a little behind but seems to slowly be catching up in Hong Kong. We are seeing a lot of existing retailers increase the focus on sustainability and that can only be a good thing. At Salvo, we have the luxury of starting from scratch in 2021 and being able to carefully select a group of brands that follow conscious, sustainable methods. There are so many great brands out there that truly care about how their products are made so it's a no-brainer for us.

JJ: What inspires you generally?

HP: One of the things that has inspired me most is when I see friends and others taking on new challenges and looking to build on things they care about. One of the brands we stock is an ethical skincare brand called UpCircle, which began by recycling coffee grounds from artisan cafes and turning them into body scrubs. This was started several years ago by a University friend of mine and has gone from strength-to-strength, which is something that definitely gave me inspiration going into this new venture.

More generally, I've always had an interest in art and design as an observer. One of the most rewarding parts of the process so far was designing the store with Ana, being able to take small cues from design inspiration I've had in the past (the green tiled cashier comes from a kitchen counter I've had saved on my phone for years in case I ever moved into a place big enough for one!)

JJ: Who is the “SALVO” man?

HP: We are hoping to appeal to men across the age range with clothes that are considered and affordable. We would like to think that we can bridge the gap between fast-fashion and luxury choices. While it may not always be top of everyone's shopping agenda, we also hope to provide opportunities for consumers that are looking to shop more consciously.