About Us

Ben Nevis Clothing is a family run business that was established in 1962 as Wearite / Kampkit clothing manufacturers and suppliers and we still operate from the same premises in Camden Town, London. Not only do our, Harrington Jackets, get the seal of approval from many in the music and TV industry, past and present but most importantly from the men and girls in the street, who once they have worn ours never buy another model. As a family run business, we pride ourselves in giving exceptional value and customer service.

Humble Beginnings

Our Origins Date Back To The Early Sixties

We started as a manufacturer working in a basement next to where our present store is today. We started making men’s outer garments such as Anoraks, Donkey Jackets, Harrington jackets, and supplying other shops around the UK. We then moved to our present site Royal College Street, Camden Town in 1962 where we continued to manufacture goods using the whole of the building but leaving just enough space to have a small factory shop open to the general public on the ground floor.

a start of something special

It Very Quickly Became Apparent That We Were Starting To Become Popular With The Local Community

Customers were coming in to buy their Donkey jackets for work and asking us for all manner of other things such as Jeans and footwear.
I remember as a child in the shop on Saturdays having shrink to fit 501 Levis jeans in store and only a very few hard-working men would buy them
These jeans were set to become an iconic piece of clothing for the youth of the day.

LADS LOVE US

Fashion Was Very Much On The Agenda & Our Famous Combat Harrington Jacket

Along with Harrington Jackets, Alpha Bomber Jackets, Lavenir Country Wear and the famous Doc Marten boots were very much in demand. Local lads and their friends came from all over London to our shop, many of whom are still returning to this day. There is a story entrenched in our history of one of the boys from the local band Madness, stealing a jacket that was hanging outside the shop on display. My old man chased him all the way to Kentish town but lucky for him he got away.

CALL TO ORDER SCHEME

In The Seventies, We Started a Mail Order Service To Complement Our Retail Business Which Proved To Be Successful

We also moved our manufacturing business to a different site but kept our factory shop in Royal College Street in Camden town where it still stands today.

like father…

Ben Nevis Clothing Was Born

Having established a solid foundation and continuing to develop our manufacturing relationships with other brands, the business in the early 80s took another turn with a new name. Ben Nevis Clothing was born. We began to supply several Industries such as local authorities, housing associations and schools in London and around the UK with their Personal Protective Equipment and Logoed uniforms. This is still a big part of our business today.

…Like son

Following In The Old Man’s Footsteps The New Generation Is Here

Our next step is to drive the Family Business forward with a newer, modern approach, but also keeping those important values that we have upheld since our humble beginnings in the 1960’s.

rebirth of an icon

Our Old Internet Pages Have Served Us Well, But It’s Time For Change

We feel it is time for a new site to reflect the changing face of retail but still providing the same values and service our worldwide customers have become accustomed to. The new site will provide a much wider choice of goods from our famous own brands like Combat, Lavenir, Charles Plume and Holts of Camden, to our large stock distribution of Alpha industries garments and much more.

A FAMILY TRADITION

We Will Always Try To Do Our Utmost To Keep Everyone Happy & Our Shop Remains Open On Royal College Street Serving The Community

It is most gratifying when a Grandfather comes into the shop with his Grandson in tow and says “see that Harrington jacket son, I bought my first one here when I was a Boy “. This gives true witness to the real values and heritage we have built here at Ben Nevis Clothing.