The fifth Entrepreneurs Monthly Meet-Up (EMM) of the academic year brought together students, graduates, local founders, and members of Liverpool’s entrepreneurship ecosystem for a fashion-focused session.
The event was organised by the Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship (BCfE), in partnership with universities and colleges across the Liverpool City Region. The session was supported and facilitated by Richard Leighton, BCfE Entrepreneur-In-Residence, whose leadership continues to shape the EMM series as a platform forsharing practical insights and supporting regional collaboration.
Hosted at NatWest’s city centre branch, the event was delivered in collaboration with the bank’s entrepreneurship team.
The session featured two guest speakers. Adam Cummings, Co-Founder of Tribal Society, leads the development and growth of the brand’s premium menswear offering, including its retail presence and product strategy. Tribal Society is a Liverpool-based brand specialising in affordable, hand-finished denim and luxury garments, with a strong emphasis on quality craftsmanship.
He was joined by Vaughn Nicholls, Founder of Vaughn, who oversees the creative direction, brand identity, and expansion of the label’s streetwear collections. Vaughn is a contemporary brand built on the ethos of “luxury without limits,” offering high-quality pieces with bold graphic designs inspired by luxury lifestyle and sporting heritage.
Both speakers shared insights into building premium fashion brands, reflecting on their journeys from early-stage ideas through to establishing and growing their businesses. Discussion covered brand positioning, maintaining quality, navigating evolving trends, and scaling within a competitive market.
Their discussion highlighted several consistent themes and practical insights for those developing or considering their own ventures:
- A clear and consistent brand identity is essential in the premium fashion space
- Maintaining quality becomes more complex — and more critical — as businesses grow
- Adaptability is key in responding to customer demand and changing trends
- Accessing support networks, including NatWest’s Entrepreneur Accelerator, can support growth
- Physical retail continues to add value when aligned with brand experience
Attendee feedback highlighted the value of the session, with participants noting that it was “insightful to hear honest reflections on the challenges of scaling a fashion brand.” Attendees also remarked that "the speakers made the entrepreneurial journey feel both realistic and accessible", and that the event "provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with Liverpool’s entrepreneurial community."
The evening continued with further networking opportunities with participants staying on to make new connections within a supportive entrepreneurial environment.