Paul Sid is a true connoisseur of casual wear, in the game for many a year, and the mind behind the exciting brand RETREAT. Retreat has gained many fans and followers since its inception, and the down-to-earth nature behind the brand continues to drive it forward with an authenticity that sets it apart from other brands on the scene. We got a chance to pose a few questions to Paul and quiz him about Retreat and more!

What’s your name, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Paul Sudron (Paul Sid for short) and I am from a small seaside town in the North east of England called Hartlepool. I am the creative director and owner of Retreat which is basically a part time project for me which allows me to continue with my passion for creativity and art. I have a full time 9-5 job and I’m a full time family man so I can only focus on Retreat in my spare time.

Tell us a little bit more about Retreat.

I started Retreat in 2005. The initial aim was to just release a few graphical designs for t-shirts for myself and my friends. I was bored of the designs which were being made by some of the established brands and thought I could release some designs which were both different and which could compete with these brands.

The name Retreat came about from our own personal opinions both politically and socially. We feel that some of our designs may express personal feelings and we may occasionally question international conflict, but our final aim is not to solely preach, but to produce some fresh and original powerful graphics for you all, whiles having fun along the way.

What’s your vision for Retreat over the next few months / years?

I don’t really look too much towards the future when it comes to the brand as you never know what is around the corner. I’m a little surprised we have lasted this long. It’s a tough game to get into, and an even tougher one to maintain.

Our main focus is to create solid designs that cater for all markets, and not just the manufactured ones which have been aligned to a specific scene. Applying mainly discharged and waterbased inks, we aim to produce garments to the highest quality.

Who are some of the other brands out there who you look up to?

From growing up I got into the skateboard brands which really got me into the graphical side. From Santa Cruz to Powell. The designs were always colourful and eye catching. I then moved onto the early pioneers of what is now known as Streetwear. I liked brands such as Supreme and Bathing Ape but over the last 8 years I haven’t really followed any of them as they don’t inspire me.

Brands and designers I do like include Answer, The Trilogy Tapes, PAM, Will Bankhead, Ben Drury to name a few. I wouldn’t say I would like to emulate any of these brands. I get inspiration from their designs and blogs but never try to release anything other than whats in my own head.

Would you like to move into cut and sew wider range collections in the future?

We did release some cut and sew striped tees a few years ago but to be honest it’s not something I’ve thought about much. It would be nice to be able to put out denim and stuff but right now the focus is just good designs for tees and sweaters.

If you could collaborate with anyone or any brand who would it be and why?

We have already collaborated with Vaughn Bode and The Bode Estate which was a dream come true for me. I have been a fan for many years and to be given permission to adapt one of his pieces for a Retreat release was amazing.

In terms of collabs I’m not too bothered although it would be nice to have say Will Bankhead do a design for me or to be able to work with the likes of The Jean Michel Basquiat estate or Andy Warhol estate.

As a designer, what is inspiration for you?

I get inspired from things I see everyday. All of creation, my wife, my kids, 80’s movies, things in the past growing up, The Beastie Boys, UNKLE, Hip Hop. The list is endless

Do you have any other exciting projects coming up worth noting?

Hopefully I’m gonna be doing some designs for a local dance/hip hop crew from Hartlepool. They are called Ruff Diamonds which consist of about 13 kids who seem really talentedand passionate. Continue to do some designs for The Candy Bithces who are based in Birmingham and to continue to drop limited designs for Retreat.

Any shoutouts you want to give?

Big shoutout to my wife Vix, Molly, Charlie and little Jonah, all my mates, Doof Industries, Zorra and the rest of The Candy Bitches, Mick Knaggs and anyone else I’ve forgotton!

Keep up to date with everything that’s going on at Retreat by reading the blog and becoming a fan on facebook.

…..and say “BRO, Where did you get that from?”

The usual answer is RISE! No lie. I don’t know how many times people have expressed their desire to get the RISE or DIE crew neck sweat but it seems the tradition has no passed over onto our newest selection of tees (if I may humbly say so).

After receiving my 3 personal favourite pre-releases I threw one on my back and the other in my Eastpak and trotted of back to Yorkshire collecting comments from train passengers, shop owners and a guy in the local Chinese. If this was a game, I’d be winning!

(photo courtesy of my twitter @AllThingsCommon …shame plug)

Turkish cotton, sick attention to detail, slim fitting extended length tees with a nice sleeve length….mmm.

I hear were near sold out too…..

SO CAN WE GET UP FOR THIS OR WHAT?

Believe.

Our good friends who run the brand Trousers London came all the way up to Birmingham and payed us a visit last week. TL is one of the most forward thinking denim labels around at the moment, with the potential to explode over the next few seasons. They dropped off the first load of stock at the store, and then we spent the rest of the day hanging out, planning to take over the world, learning how to freeze and febreeze jeans to get them clean, and drinking stella.

Although there are no pics of their product in this post, you can head over to their website and take a sneaky peak. They can also be found stocked in mr fredricks here in Birmingham which may be a lot closer for all you midlanders.

Here are some random snaps from our great day.

mr fredricks

Inside mr f’s during the refurb

Sewage leak roadblock pain in the ass

£249 selvedge levis x selfridges limited to 100 pairs, reduced to £49. And freeze and febreeze inside knowledge.

planning

thinking

arguing

Ranui

I received my orders from Ranui that I must complete while in Japan, Number 1 on the list was to find a type of cafe where the girls who serve you are dressed in wierd outfits. This is the result of one of Ranui’s research methods into japanese culture, and you’ll have to ask him what the program was called as I can’t remember.

So to get to this cafe I ended up walking around Nipponbashi, and then asking an overtly excitable sales assistant in a clothes shop if there were any Maid Cafe’s about and she gave me some simple directions and then sent me out the back of her shop to get there. I have to admit that there were times when I thought that I may have been going to a brothel….but alas…i wasn’t.

I got to the cafe and its pretty normal, apart from the funnily dressed girls, and then the 10% of customers who are utter freaks and are pretty dang scary. They pay like a fiver to get a picture with the maids, and ring bells to call them over, and collect maid cards with the girls in different clothing outfits etc. Wierd. But the majority of people in there are totally normal, just going in for the fact that its a cafe and does good iced coffee.

So I have just come across the new drop from “For the Homies” and it is…well…interesting to say the least. Textile innervation is one thing…but leather is one of those things that needs to be used…carefully i guess.

The varsity jacket looks pretty cool…but the button up shirt and the shorts are the items that I am just astounded at. Why…why…why. Even the softest leather can begin to irritate a wearer after a few hours of wearing; and the shorts just scream sweat and sticky in hot weather. It is not that the design concept was flawed but the complete leather choice is a miss for the Fall and any season in my personal opinion. Nice website though check it out…

Are there ever days when you want to roll in to work on your skateboard but still have to look somewhat presentable? Well, the latest collaboration between purveyor of all things sneaker, Alife, and French sportswear mogul, Lacoste, is a polo shirt that is the perfect combination of preppy and punk. Featuring the largest alligator ever to grace a (legitimate) Lacoste shirt, and the number “158″ across the back, the address of the Lower East Side Alife store, this shirt is sure to fulfill your inner brand whore while still maintaining some street cred.

The shirts sell for $175 and are available at Alife Rivington Club or through their online store.

Along with numerous tribute in sneaker forms by both Nike and PUMA, Stussy and retailer Commonwealth created the Mexico City Olympics T-Shirt pack in honor of American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, on their historical silent protest on the award ceremony of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Shoeless, both athletes raised a fisted arm in black glove and bowed their heads as the national anthem played, to signified the racial & social inequalities within the U.S. Their controversial gestures caused their medals and expulsion from the game. However, it attracted attention to the struggle against social injustices and became a pivotal point in American history.

Imprinted with the photo of that historical moment in front, Stussy x Commonwealth - Mexico City Olympics T-Shirt reminds the fragility of the equality and rights we enjoy today with the message “In This Great Future, You Can’t Forget Your Past”. Comes in white or black, this limited edition is currently available at Stussy’s online store, Stussy Direct.

X-Large, a staple in classic streetwear, is back with another exciting duel project with Wild Things. Wild Things is also a functional action sports and welf proclaimed ‘adventures gear’. In addition to a collab with the earlier mentioned Penfield company; X-Large is doing another heavy duty Fall/Winter piece. This parka piece has a heavy nylon shell and colorful plaid lining on the inside to liven up the piece. Maybe not a piece for the slopes but definetley one for those chilly late nights. Equipped with drawstring hood and velcro adjustable wrist straps this is a solid parka. Check X-Large and retailers for the pick up. [thehundreds]

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.

SIZE? and Fred have teamed up to create some real nice pieces, two colourways each consisting of two styles of shoes and a polo. Here are some snaps we got…

I’m no black matt, so my pictures and general camera work leave a lot to be desired…but get into SIZE? and check out the other black and red colourways. hot. fact.

Thought I’d leave you with ALIFE at SIZE?.