Stepney Workers Club: The Story of the Dellow

A genreless company inspired by the cultural diversity associated with traditional workers sports clubs and backed by the now re-claimed non-conformist slogan ‘Freedom of Sport, Freedom of Thought’, Shoreditch hailing Stepney Workers Club is a unified brand with a distinctly British aesthetic that nonchalantly captures all there is to admire about classic blue-collar working culture. Named after founders Simon See and Roger Pereira’s own personal affiliation with the old Stepney Workers Sports Club, ‘an anti-fascist, anti-war club born in the ‘20s’, S.W.C revives the club’s values and beliefs in line with contemporary desire to suit the liberal-thinking movements of current-day society. Turning to the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s for sub-cultural inspiration, Stepney Workers Club remains loyal to its all-inclusive nature by taking socialised elements from heritage sportswear and combining it with the notion of free-speech and unrestrained inclusivity - something that’s reflected in both the brand’s working sports club past and their now iconic handshake logo.

A fully vulcanised sneaker inspired by original ‘50s and ‘60s construction techniques, the iconic Stepney Workers Club Dellow sneaker hosts an androgynous profile that’s been uniquely rehashed to suit the demanding needs of the contemporary climate. With its ‘amateur sport’ outline and its subtle reference to working-class footwear, a resurging trend that once again returns through similarly-crafted workwear silhouettes such as the Wallabee and Red Wing Boot, the Dellow strikes the perfect balance between heritage-wear and casual athleisure styling. Initially crafted from cotton-drill canvas to deliver a timeless finish that indistinctly refers to its working-class muse, the Dellow and its high-collared Varden sibling have since been creatively reworked with uppers crafted from corduroy, suede and even 1000D Cordura for an outdoor-orientated uplift that adheres to the East-London brand’s cross-culture, cross-generation and cross-terrain appeal. Complementing bygone construction methods with modernised techniques, Stepney Workers Club hone in on a days-gone past aesthetic that free-willingly celebrates over-the-top trims such as the Dellow’s chunky, premium-cushioned sole, its high-wall foxing and its boxy 6-eyelet midfoot. The elongated centre-foot panelling presents low-key similarities to both tennis and bowling-based profiles from the ‘60s, whilst the concealed siped tread underfoot aligns them neatly with any urbanised setting. Considered and unprocessed colourways exhibited across the Dellow and Varden continue to corroborate seasonal trends, with time-honoured shades of raw ecru, tan, black and brown observing utilitarian aesthetics and the brand’s ode to classic workwear tradition through their quintessentially-British titled releases such as their ‘Ice-Cream Cones and Sunburnt Skies’ SS19 collection.

When it comes to British heritage-wear and refined utility-led appeal, Stepney Workers Club is a brand that continues to stand out thanks to its easy-going European reputation and its mellow-minded creative direction. Suitably similar to British brands such as fellow ‘Unknown Pleasures’ capsule collaborator Universal Works, industrialised manufacturers Tender, self-taught tailor Oliver Spencer and fellow London-based label YMC, S.W.C’s anti-corporate aesthetic provides the modern-day self-confessed urbanite with a refreshing sense of stripped-back character, something that is often overlooked when it comes to colour-heavy streetwear and accessories. With the turn in decade, the notion of reclaimed heritage and celebratory anti-corporate independence has seen a swift increase in popularity as brands turn their attention to localised manufacturing methods and sustainable resourcing, with collected curators Stepney Workers Club turning to collaborative efforts with British graphic-designer Peter Saville and neighbouring London store Goodhood to cement their homegrown stature and their continued honouring of exemplary English culture.

View all Stepney Workers Club.

Model also wears;

Norse Projects Arid Roll Neck with Uniform Bridge Sweatpants

Nike Tie-Dye Pullover Hoodie with Mollusk Corduroy Shorts

Vetra 5C Short Twill Workwear Jacket with Gramicci Corduroy Gramicci Pants

Gramicci Back Satin Coaches Jacket with Gramicci Corduroy Gramicci Pants 

Back to the Blog