Mons (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Mons Royale, founded by Hamish and Hannah Acland, celebrates 15 years of producing stylish Merino clothing. The brand prioritizes natural materials and has expanded globally despite industry challenges.
Mons Royale is a Merino clothing brand celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Co-founder Hamish Acland feels like he’s just starting, even though a lot has changed. He and his wife, Hannah, have always focused on their unique style. They run their main office in Wanaka, New Zealand, but also have locations in Innsbruck, Austria, and Squamish, Canada. Hamish was once a professional freeride skier and noticed a need for stylish yet functional merino base layers, so he and Hannah started Mons Royale in 2009, combining their love for merino wool and the mountains they grew up in.
How has Mons Royale, a Merino clothing brand from Wanaka, achieved global success in 15 years?
Mons Royale, co-founded by Hamish Acland, aims to make its mark in the global market rather than compete with brands like Icebreaker. They focus on using natural materials and have a presence in over 1,000 stores worldwide, with a small team in Wanaka and some abroad. Recently, they opened new stores, including one in Wanaka for their 15th anniversary. While they’re proud of their quality outdoor clothing for skiing and mountain biking, they aren’t great at promoting themselves because they focus on their work. Despite challenges like COVID-19 and climate change, they’re seeing a shift towards wool over synthetic materials, which benefits their brand as they adapt to the market.
He feels good about wool’s future because more people see the problems with plastic clothes. Wool is great, and brands like Mons should promote it. He thinks recycling plastic into clothes isn’t a real solution, it’s better to recycle bottles into new bottles. The main issue is that synthetic materials are cheaper. He says modern tools help run a global business from a small place like Wänaka, and having a diverse team is helpful. He and his wife love what they do, and seeing their team grow gives them energy.
Mons Royale has changed a lot in 15 years, and now they are opening stores. Mr. Acland thinks it’s important to take risks and not fear failure. He believes it’s better to try than to stay in a boring place. He and his wife love working together and understand each other well. Living in Wanaka helps them enjoy life, especially with their kids as they go skiing. They need to balance family fun with work, which is easier without a long commute. For the future, Mr. Acland sees a chance for Mons to grow and make a difference.
