Interview at The ModFather

On my recent visit to London, I took a detour to Brighton and was fortunate enough to sit down with Daniel Warner, co-owner of The ModFather, a clothing store which stocks selected heritage brands. The ModFather belongs to Daniel and his father, Mario Warner. An idea born from a passion for classic Italian scooters and style. With hard work and dedication they are still going strong 14 years later.

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 It all started as a hobby because of their love for the classic scooter scene with Daniel and Mario opening a shop in Camden. Daniel’s dad had been in the record industry for 40 years and at one point had an office next to John Weller at Polydor. He then left the record business to start up The ModFather with Daniel who was working as a personal trainer at the time. The shop started to grab the attention of scooterists. Business was on the rise and Daniel decided to take on the shop with his father by his side. The business became a full time job after only six months. As business increased, they decided to open another branch of The ModFather, this time in Brighton, the mecca of all things Mod. Initially Daniel commuted from Camden to Brighton on a daily basis, but with a young family the decision was made to move to Brighton on a permanent basis.

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I was interested to know the age range of people who frequented The ModFather.  A majority of the customers are aged between 40 to 65 years old. On occasions there can be families of three generations looking at clothing items. Daniel told me of a grandfather visiting the shop with his grandson to buy him his first Harrington jacket, which I am sure would be a memory held dear. Fascinating to see how this culture can pass down through the generations. Upcoming bands who follow the music, who are in the scene are also frequent visitors. Daniel believes there will most likely be a further revival when Oasis are back on tour in the summer. He hopes this may encourage younger fans to delve into the fashion and expand their wardrobes. Daniel made a good point stating that you do not always have to be interested in the culture to like the fashion.

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Talking about clothing and fashion, I asked Daniel which items of clothing were most popular in the shop. The most popular brands are Fred Perry, Baracuta, Fila, Sergio Tacchini, and Mr Bridger, which is a brand specialising in women’s clothing. The Baracuta, is a very sought after item of clothing, due to its style and heritage, most famously worn by the Hollywood legend, Steve McQueen.  

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Lastly, I wanted to know how the style of clothing resonated with Daniel himself. He told me he loved the ‘look good, feel good’ idea. This style can make you stand out and is different from the fashion of today.  There is such attention to detail which makes others take note of what you are wearing.

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I am very grateful to Daniel for giving me the opportunity to meet with him at his iconic store in Brighton. A favourite store for my dad and myself.

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I would like to wish Daniel, his father and staff all the best in the future, and will almost certainly visit the shop again soon.