A retro clothing brand inspired by a North East disco legend has unveiled grand plans for expansion across the 海角视频 and Europe.
Brutus Gold Boutique was launched last year just before the pandemic struck, specialising in leisurewear emblazoned with 1970s hit single titles, including Yes Sir, I Can Boogie.
Now the Yarm based firm is set for growth - thanks in part to the Scottish national football team’s own rendition of the 1977 hit by Baccara.
The company was launched in February 2020 by Rocco Violetta, the son of the Teesside disco performer Brutus Gold, aka Nigel Wanless, who has flown all over the world to DJ for the rich and famous, including at private parties at The Cannes Film Festival, for MTV and for Tina Turner.
Since setting up demand has soared for its clothing, which portray cultural references, slogans and music titles from the 1970s such as Studio 54, Do The Hustle, I Feel Love and Hotel Motel Holiday Inn.
On its inception, the company was the only officially licensed seller of the Yes Sir, I can Boogie clothing range, with a portion of its proceeds going to the widows of the track’s songwriters, Frank Dostal and Rolf Soja.
In December 2020, Brutus Gold Boutique reported a huge surge in demand for the merchandise after a video of the Scottish national football team singing the 1970s disco hit went viral.
Brutus Gold Boutique currently employs six people but plans to expand to 30 before the end of the year, after appointing retail sales specialist Andrew Granville, who is making inroads to new overseas markets.
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With several new clothing collections in the works, the young clothing brand is set to launch two new production facilities in Australia and Italy this July to keep up with demand.
Based on its current trajectory, the company is expected to be stocked by fifty independent stockists in the 海角视频, Europe and Australia by the end of the year, putting it on course to reach turnover of £3.5m in the next three years.
The firm has lines from the Swinging '60s and '80s in the works and all the company’s products are organic, ethically sourced, vegan-friendly, non-toxic and shipped in plastic-free packaging, which has seen it win support from celebrities including presenters Jonathan Ross and Jenny Powell and record producer Mousse T.
Mr Violetta, managing director, said: “We put a huge amount of effort into the development stages of our garments, ensuring that we sourced from the correct suppliers and testing the products repeatedly.
“It has been very hard work but very rewarding, too. From the outset it always felt good to us and the brand immediately struck a chord with like-minded customers worldwide.”