Liverpool’s largest independent clothes store Resurrection have created quite the name for themselves. After getting in touch, we got a chance to sit down with Rob Pritchard and find out from the owner himself, just what’s going down over there!

Whats your name, where are you from and what do you do?

My names Rob Pritchard and I own and run Liverpool’s largest independent - Resurrection with my wife Lisa. We stock a vast and varied mix of brands including Carhartt, Lee, Zoo York, Merc, Converse, Onitsuka Tiger, Fly 53, Fred Perry, Religion, House of the Gods, Amplified and too many others to list. About 110 in all. We also stock a massive range of men’s and women’s vintage.

Ace, I personally can’t get enough of vintage and good ol’ Fred Perry but what’s Resurrection’s story, and what was the drive to make it work?

I founded Resurrection in 1988 when I was a student at Durham University. Originally it was a small stall that I used to run at the Student Union building once or twice a term. I’d take £100 on a good day and that seemed like an awful lot of money at the time as I was always broke. It was originally a purely vintage offering and stayed so in fact until about 2000. I started the store because I needed to make some money. I already loved scouring the charity shops, boot fairs and jumble sales for clothes for myself. One Easter holiday I decided to buy a bit extra so I could sell it on. I had some really cheap places I knew about and the initial stock cost about £40. It was a big gamble because that was pretty much all I had.

My father had died a couple of years earlier and my mum wasn’t in a position to bail me out if it all went pear shaped. After I graduated I carried on with the markets. I borrowed £700 off my sister and brought a really inappropriate old Land Rover to move stock around in. It leaked and stock often got ruined. It also drove like a tractor and did about 12 miles a gallon on a run. I soon paid her back although she still goes on about how she helped me out. In 1991 I opened a stall which was about 8 foot by 12 foot in the Quiggins Arcade. My Mum really helped me out in the early years by working on the stall when I was away buying or doing other markets. She became a well known figure herself on the Liverpool scene during these years and all kinds of people still ask about her. She still did odd days in the shop up to 4 years ago.

Over the years it increased in size and by the mid 90’s was making me good money. Lisa joined me in 1996 when we got married. Her input really helped move things on as she had a formal sales training and she also proved to be an excellent womens wear buyer. This isn’t why I married her though - when I met her I thought “what a Hottie”, and I still do now. In the last 4 years we’ve moved out of the Quiggins Arcade as the inner city development forced its closure. The move into primary retail space really was a big risk but it didn’t take long before we were making a big hit.

That’s quite a history! But what were the customers saying? Within the area, how well was it received at first?

Our first “big” store was at 25 Bold St. It was 3000 sq ft and seemed enormous. We opened that in 2006. We were in it 2 years before we’d outgrown it and now we have an 11000 sq ft store at 17-19 Bold St. The store’s always been popular. Even when it was a tiny stall in the Quiggins Centre we’d attract all kinds of customers - high profile bands and actors, young professionals, old professionals, students, normal people, Norwegians, all sorts. We’re definitely not corporate and people get that about us and believe in us. We also do things the wrong way sometimes just to see what happens. Like me buying that rubbish Land Rover all those years ago. We say it’s the Resurrection way. The staff play a big part in all this. I let them do their own thing as long as they are productive and don’t hurt anyone.

In terms of product we sell whatever I think people will want. I always aim to buy things that people will get pleasure from owning and wearing. I still get excited when I find amazing product, whether it’s something I would personally wear or not. Having such a varied customer base allows us to stock a really eclectic mix of brands and product. I still like to work on the shop floor when I can and have a lot of contact with my customers. I have so many regulars they alone could keep the business going. Some have been coming in for nearly 20 years. I’m only 41 so that’s nearly half my life.

When I select items from a collection I think in terms of buying for these guys. These guys are aged 9 to 70 so it gives me plenty of scope. Obviously with the brands we stock we appeal mainly to the 15 to 35 year olds, but there really is so much more. I find it hilarious when someone comes in who we’d have loads of things for, but for some reason they get overwhelmed by the offer and walk straight out again without really looking. It happens about twice a day when I’m on the floor. I get a real buzz when someone comes in and I think “now here’s someone we can’t possibly have anything for” and yet they get what’s going on and start finding things, or better still they start to get into stuff they didn’t even realise they would like. This happens a lot and gives me a real buzz. I feel like the store’s really made a contribution to their life.

What is it that you love about your area, do you have a big sense of pride in the locality?

I love Liverpool. I’m originally from Warrington which effectively should make me a second class citizen in the city, but I receive very little abuse.

My family were all originally from Liverpool and I grew up absolutely in love with the city. When the city was a real mess in the eighties I was so biased I still thought it was an amazing place. I love the people here, I love the scene, I love the architecture. I find it hard to fault the place.

I don’t like all the Smack Heads. Apart from that it’s a fine place.

Damn smack heads! So, what have you got going on at the moment, any interesting projects for 2010?

There’s always stuff going on. We like to do a lot of collaborations with local bands and artists. In-store gigs, photoshoots, exhibitions, that sort of thing. The web sites quite a big thing at the moment. It’s been live now for 4 months and we are shipping all round the world. So far this week we have shipped to New Zealand, Isarel, Germany and Russia and it’s only Wednesday. With the web site we will be carrying on the Resurrection tradition of not following the rules. I take notice of them, but then I think it’s best not to be restrained by them. For example, we have done the smart thing and attended Ecommerce courses, contracted an Ecommerce marketing company and taken on someone with lots of web experience, so that we have all the essentials in place. Now it’s all working and making money we can start to have some fun with it. There’s some funny stuff hidden in there for people to find. Just mischief at the moment but we’ve got the time now to really go to town on it. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from our on-line customers and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved so far. I didn’t think I’d be able to get my head round it so quickly being a bit of a techno phobe, but I like systems and some would say I was borderline autistic. It stands me in good stead for a lot of things in business.

You sound like quite the natural business man but for people interested in starting up an independent retail venue what would you tell them? What do you wish you’d known back when you first opened?

I knew absolutely nothing when I started. I think that’s good because you have to work out your own way of doing things. I’m not going to spoil it for anyone. They’re probably best working it out themselves.

So there is hope for the clueless entrepreneurs! But for you personally, what have been the absolute high points of the store?

Each time we expand and it works is a massive relief, if not a high point. Jared came in when he was hosting the MTV awards in Liverpool last year. He bought over £1000 of gear and loved the place. It didn’t mean that much to me at the time because I didn’t know who he was, but I really buzzed off the fact that although he was a very wealthy Hollywood star he homed in on the basement which is the part of the store that really reflects the origins of the business. It’s where all the Moddy/Indie gear is as well as the men’s vintage and he spent nearly an hour down there looking at everything. Every time someone finds the basement for the first time and really appreciates it, it reassures me that despite all the expansion over the years, we haven’t sold out. We’re still true to our roots, and what’s more people like what we’re doing

It’s Febuary now, the new year has barely begun but what do you want to have accomplished by the end of this year?

I want the website to be fully established and turning over good money. I always want the store to be the best it can be, so that goes without saying. I’ve been toying with the idea of opening a store in another city for years. I’m always put off by the fact the Liverpool store may suffer as a result. I’d rather have one brilliant store than two good ones. At some point it would be interesting if I thought I could have two brilliant stores, but we’ll have to see if that’s this year or not. I certainly won’t be sitting still anyway.

So, it sounds like Resurrection know exactly what’s on, and what to where whilst doing it. Kudos to the Pritchards for the epic creation of the Resurrection store.

As I was browsing the National Geographic website, I found this little nugget of photography gold:

Farmer carrying his eleventh child, Dingle, Ireland.

Note To Self: Get to a Dublin car hire right now and travelling to meet this dude. Also, get a pipe.

Photographer Annie Griffiths Belt has a great collection of photos on her website. Her style is so vibrant and colourful. Whether she’s snorkeling or braving the snow she goes from length to length to capture these amazing pieces. All doing this whilst maintaining an epic sense of style. This woman has it nailed!

I came across Lookbook a couple of months ago whilst browsing some top notch blogs online.

It seems to me, that the reason for this blog is for people to share fashion styles and tips etc. I definitely can only designate a considerable amount of time to put my wears on in the morning, long enough to make sure they’re not on backwards. So I’m not sure I understand how people have the time, or patience, to create homemade and fashionable photographic displays of their outfits on a regular basis.

I want to give the appropriate snaps to the guys and gals who seem to have made a effort to make their photo original, or at least dressed appropriately for the many viewers of the www.

But to the others who have clearly just got their ‘bff’ to snap a few shots of them in an outfit only made ‘hip’ by the wearing of fancy shoes…not so much.

LOLS.

Inspired and driven by the original house parties and park jams which birthed MC’s, B-boy Crews, Graffiti Artists, DJ’s and the foundation of Hip-Hop, Sedgwick & Cedar are introducing a new line of t-shirts. They’ve collaborated with famous hip-hop photographer Jamel Shabazz to incorporate some of the most influential and rare photo’s in urban history to their t-shirts.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jamel Shabazz picked up his first camera at just 15 years old and has been capturing the finest snap shots of ‘Urban Life’ for over 30 years.

The Shabazz collection will feature the heart & soul of 1980’s New York designed into the aesthetic of Sedgwick & Cedar clothing. Consumers will get a chance to own a real piece of history, not just a garment or an accessory. These tops are classics that will carry on looking as fly as 1973′ has ever been. But they’re only available for the holiday and being a limited edition you’ll have to catch them while you still have the chance!

“Jamel Shabazz was taking photos of the coolest cats in Brooklyn, Queens and Harlem during the 70s and 80s. Kicking it in Kangol, super clean Nikes, and a lot of Adidas; the poses his subjects strike are awesome.”

Each design from this signature selection will have a custom hangtag describing the legacy of the master behind the lens, Jamel Shabazz.

Sedgwick & Cedar will offer this unique collection on line here but you can get your mitts on them in speciality shops in the US, Europe and Asia, proudly celebrating the Brooklyn photographer’s timeless imagery.

The images in this collaboration can also be found in Jamel’s book ‘Back in the Days’, which is full of photo’s of what he considers true African American culture, before New York was changed by gang warfare and drugs. “These images are so incredibly cool. And if you’re white, they will make you feel even whiter.”


Jamel Shabazz, even if he doesn’t still rock a squafro these days, I think he’s pretty damn fly.

Addict have just recently collaborated with two big names in the streetwear sector…FUCT and FRESHJIVE.  The tees are HOT and we have a lovely picture for you above to see….Addict have also recently dropped their Fall 08 outerwear collection and there are some real real nice pieces. Get down to your nearest Addict store soonish and check it out…i’ll throw some pics up below to tempt you.

Brand new Public School delivery just arrived at Standard. Check out the second part of the fall winter collection, some nice pieces with especially interesting detailing on the jacket…

Marc Jacobs and KAWS teamed up and designed this pair of sleek patent leather Mouse Flats to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Limited to 200 pairs worldwide, Colette (Paris), Original Fake (Tokyo) and Marc Jacobs flagship stores (US and London) will be the only stores that will carry these. Finally something for the ladies from KAWS. The flats are scheduled to release on Monday, September 29th. [freshness]

Nick Veasey calls himself the original x-ray nerd. Having spent over a decade obsessively chronicling thousands of objects through x-ray photography, it’s an appropriate label. While our society is taught to concern itself with the alluring surface of things, Veasey uses industrial x-ray machines to peel back those upper layers, often revealing a far more beautiful, and complex, underside. Having produced the largest x-ray photograph ever—a Boeing 777 that required over 500 separate x-rays of individual elements—one would think Veasey had reached his summit…but the portfolio of his pics suggests otherwise.
Nick Veasey uses x-ray technology to create mesmerizing and intriguing art. In a world obsessed with superficial appearance it is a refreshing change to be able to look beyond the surface.

Beauty, after all, comes from within. [cool hunting]