Rock N Romance Vintage expand their brand with the launch of Menswear Line
When the financial crash of 2008 brought their corporate careers to an unexpected halt, Mike and Charlene saw an opportunity to learn something new. Inspired by their shared passion for 1950s fashion and a vision of "fuss-free vintage," they decided to experiment with a simple idea: build a website and post two handmade, vintage-style dresses on social media to see what might unfold. They also decided to learn to dance - discovering the 1950s revival scene through jive and connecting with a vibrant community that shared their love for mid-century style. "Every moment in history has its following," Mike explains, "we've chosen this one, and it's a very welcoming place to be."
Growing a Global Vintage Fashion Brand
Fast forward 15 years, and the idea has become a thriving vintage
fashion business - Rock n Romance - with customers and collaborators across the globe. Now a firm fixture on the UK revival festival scene and regular costume supplier to some of the highest profile TV shows of recent years including Strictly Come Dancing, Bletchley Circle and Peaky Blinders, Rock n Romance has been based in the Victory Enterprise Centre in Portsmouth for over 10 years.
"Victory Business Centre helped us grow to where we are today", explains Mike. "The Enterprise Centres always offer flexibility which means we've been able to shuffle between big and small units as we needed."
Navigating the Challenges of the Pandemic
Charlene recalls tough times in early 2020: "We were extremely lucky to pull through the pandemic, and this is when our social media really took off. We ran Frock Up Fridays and Stay In With Style campaigns which was just what people needed at the time - I certainly did! Like so many people, I was trying to home school, work and keep everything together. We asked people to send in pictures of themselves in full vintage doing daily chores and also ventured into live streaming. People liked the realism, and we really connected. By the time we came out of the pandemic, our biggest problem was getting in enough stock."
"So the flexibility of the Enterprise Centre is a big plus. We have room to grow but also the flexibility to downsize. The 24-hour access is essential, and the reception takes in our deliveries if we're not here. On top of that, the Enterprise Centre team are always accommodating - they have never said 'no we can't do that', instead it's 'let me see what I can do'.
Expanding into Menswear
Earlier this year, Mike and Charlene expanded their brand with the launch of Dapper Chap for men. With high-profile collaborations, including custom pieces for Benson Boone’s upcoming UK tour, the collection is poised to resonate with a new generation of style-conscious men.
Mike credits The Enterprise Centres with playing a key role in their journey: “They’ve definitely helped us, it would have been much harder without them.” Rock n Romance may be a far cry from the corporate world, but Charlene and Mike wouldn’t have it any other way. “We’ve never worked harder,” Mike says, “but we get to hang out with such interesting people, it makes it all worthwhile. We've put everything into this, but we've got back what we've put in, without a doubt."
