Thomas Griffin is hard to pin down. A podcast producer, model, and self-described sartorial narcissist, his style is as varied as his pursuits. Based in Chorley, Lancashire, he’s the man behind My Own Garms, a podcast exploring the personal connections we have with the clothes we wear. Recently featured in our Country Gent look, we caught up with Thomas to talk personal style, investment pieces, and the surprising places you’ll find traditional menswear today.
On an ever-changing personal style
"My personal style is always evolving," Thomas says. "For where I’m from, it feels relatively experimental. I’m 40 this year, and I definitely dress more weirdly than I did at 25. I’ve still not got it sussed by a long shot."
That openness to change is reflected in the way he sees traditional menswear, not as something static or locked in the past, but as a constant reference point. "Even in modern wardrobes, traditional menswear is always going to play a part. I love how preppy style makes casual use of formal pieces, and how you can play around with class stereotypes with classic gear."
For Thomas, the real magic is in the mix. "I like taking a traditional fabric, like a pair of corduroy trousers, and wearing them with a contemporary hiking shoe to climb up a hill. It’s breathable, hardwearing, and looks boss, so why not?"
On wearing the story
Ask Thomas what draws him to a piece of clothing, and it’s rarely just about aesthetics. "When I buy something, I want it to feel immediately comfortable, not just physically, but emotionally. I want to put it on and think, that’s a bit of me, that." Sometimes, that feeling comes from great design. Other times, it’s in the details, the signs of wear, the human touch of a repair. "I really value clothes that have been altered or fixed. Sometimes I’ll purposefully buy something that's broken or the wrong size just because I know I’ll love it more after I’ve tweaked it and made it my own"
His appreciation for well-worn pieces extends to his most treasured shoes: a battered pair of Adidas Lucas Premieres. "I’ve had them for eight or nine years. They’ve been through the washing machine, they’re absolutely knackered, and for some reason, they always get compliments, which, as a sartorial narcissist, I obviously love."
On the day of the Country Gent shoot, Thomas wore a pair of Tricker’s Bourtons, a style he’s grown particularly fond of. "The Bourtons I wore on the shoot are well nice. That colour of leather really wears its age well. Like, each time you clean and treat it, it changes a little bit until the entire lifespan of the shoe is subtly visible in its appearance. I’m getting more and more into that idea of a wearable diary, and I think those lighter leathers are the perfect medium to write a few good stories on."
On investing in the right things
When it comes to investment pieces, Thomas doesn’t believe in saving things for best. "Someone once told me that you should spend the most money on the things you touch every day. I get out and about a lot, so I’d probably say a good pair of leather walking boots. Something you can get resoled after a thousand miles. You’ll have made a lot of memories in those boots, and that’s a nice thing to have."
Recently, he’s added a couple of new pairs of Tricker’s to his wardrobe. "I’ve just got a lovely pair of Tricker’s myself. Will, who shot the Country Gent shoot, was wearing these gorgeous brown derbies and I asked him if they were Tricker’s. He said they were the Woodstock in brown deerskin. So I totally bit his style and got the exact same ones. Oh my god, they feel amazing. Like the softest, most gorgeous things straight out of the box. They’re honestly perfect. I’ve hardly had them off."
He’s also been experimenting with the Stephen boots. "I also got a pair of the Stephen boots in black, which was a bit of a curveball for me. I’ve seen a few of the super-chunky Chelsea boots that have come out over the past few years and liked them but thought they were a bit too close to cyber-goth. And then the flat leather-soled ones can end up looking a bit indie sleaze. These ones, though, with the commando sole, strike the fine balance just perfectly. I’m still figuring out just how best to wear them because I think they look really different with different trouser lengths and widths, but they’re absolute stunners and I’m looking forward to seeing how they age over the years."
On the meaning behind the making
For Thomas, craft is important, but it’s the story behind an item that really resonates. "If brands can weave the story of a garment into the piece itself, that’s the holy grail. The stamp of a particular leather maker inside a shoe, or a signature lining on a jacket collab, that sort of thing is brilliant."
He recalls one of his earliest encounters with Tricker’s heritage. "I got my first pair of brogues when I was 22. A mate told me the perforations were originally designed to let water drain out when you were tramping through bogs, and I just thought that was class."
That imagery stuck with him, cropping up years later in his music. "I play in an Irish band, and we do Rocky Road to Dublin. There’s a line about a lad setting off on his journey with a stout blackthorn stick and a brand-new pair of brogues, rattling over the bogs and frightening all the dogs. I always picture him getting up to all sorts in a brown brogue."
On British heritage, reinterpreted.
Despite his deep appreciation for craftsmanship, Thomas doesn’t see himself as someone inherently connected to British heritage menswear. "I know the social sartorial codes and how they can be used to include some and exclude others. But for me, if the tools are there, they can be picked up and repurposed by anyone who gets their hands on them."
Still, he acknowledges the importance of place in clothing and shoemaking. "I had Jake from Popular Front on my podcast, and he was talking about Northamptonshire as a manufacturing hotbed. In an increasingly globalised world, where supply chains wrap around the planet, it’s cool to have products deeply tied to specific areas. It gives people a sense of identity and pride. And as a consumer, it’s nice to know the provenance of something you own."
After all, whether it’s a pair of boots built to last, a well-worn pair of trainers, or a brogue rattling over the bogs, it’s the stories that make clothes worth keeping.
Find Thomas on Instagram @grifter_te, or follow the podcast @myowngarms across all platforms.
