About Us
Everton Campbell, founded the Hip Store in Leeds, U.K in 1987, renowned as the first Black-owned multi brand, contemporary menswear retailer in the UK. Hip, was a select store credited as one of the first in the UK to merge premium Japanese and American heritage, sports and streetwear brands.
Alongside Mano Dridi, they now collaborate applying their years of experience sourcing the finest brands from across the globe towards curating a sophisticated offering of garments, footwear and accessories.
2nd Academic draws inspiration from historical protagonists, whose struggles for resistance and self-expression exemplify the pursuit of equality that has often been vehemently denied through various means. By challenging prevailing assumptions, the objective was to gain acknowledgment as being at least equal to the rights for which they were advocating, not solely within the perspective of American society but also on a global scale.
Consequently, the black ivy style emerged as a unique entity, separate from ivy yet consistently connected to it. Ironically, the perception of Ivy League apparel as inherently stylish is significantly influenced by this distinction
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The reframing of the Ivy look.. "it’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it’’, is never truer than in the case of black ivy style, where the classic ivy wardrobe was comprehensively raised, remixed and re-envisioned, away from its elitist confines, away from the mass market popularity and into something heavily coded and intentionally revolutionary.
While many struggles of old remain, they’ve been joined by new causes. Positive action is still required for civil rights, cultural and social change, with the environment and sustainability becoming more important for conscious minds.
