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, owner of Leeds independent All Blues Co 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 is Inspired by the protagonist of the past, both the struggles they fought and how they dressed to demonstrate for equality which had been so fiercely denied in other ways. Countering preconceptions, the goal was to be recognised as at least equal to the rights the were fighting for, not only in the eyes of the American mainstream but through out the world
As a result, black ivy style became a thing in and itself, distinct from ivy but always related to it. Ironically, the characterisation of Ivy League clothing as quintessentially cool is due in no small part.
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.
