How would you describe Ronning?
Ronning is a contemporary menswear brand. Focusing on everyday essential clothing with a Scandinavian-inspired subtle detailing and cut.
The brand was founded by Magnus Ronning back in 2016 when his YouTube career was first blossoming. He then hired myself and Rory Jones in 2017 when he wanted to move away from streetwear blanks and create his own cut and sew collections.
What does that entail?
Specifically, Magnus focuses on brand direction and customer engagement/sales. Rory runs distribution, fulfilment and socials along with our customer service. I handle all things clothing, manufacture, sampling, development.
The three of us together run the company and all have our own specialist areas. We design as a group and each of us has our own input on each piece.
What is Ronning’s mission statement?
If I’m honest we never sat down and wrote one. But we aim to create the highest quality, affordable garments with as little impact to the environment as possible. We are constantly learning, growing and adapting to how we want the brand to develop.
What do you think sets the brand apart?
Firstly, quality for price. I’m confident that Ronning quality rivals many high-end brands, without the crippling markup applied.
Why did you recently choose to release a sustainable item of clothing?
I’m tired of people using sustainability as a push to sell clothes. It should be something you do regardless and not a way to try and increase sales.
With every item we release I search for the most sustainable processes. Whether it be in organic cotton, low water usage dyes or recycled packaging.
If there's ever an option that we can provide to make a garments better at any point we will apply that. But, we're also not foolish enough to believe that can all be done in one go. It's a slow and steady process that we hone and learn from each collection.
Is that part of a bigger commitment?
We all care for the environment on some level, when I’m making clothes for Ronning or any brand it's in the back of my mind to make it as sustainable as possible.
Now it's not always possible and there are push points with factories and clients that come about, but it's finding that balance that allows brands to grow safely and sustainable processes to be taken.
As long as you're pushing forward and trying to be constantly better then the world would be a better place.
What’s your view on sustainability in the fashion industry?
I think there's a very fine balance with being a sustainable brand and not — and If I’m honest, I wouldn't say any of the brands I work with right now are sustainable.
It's overlooked and under appreciated, mainly. I think there's a very fine balance with being a sustainable brand and not — and If I’m honest, I wouldn't say any of the brands I work with right now are sustainable.
We do all use organic cotton, recycled plastic packaging, recycled woven labels but there's still more we can do. I'm working on building 400-450 recycled cotton sweatshirting for all my clients, but at the minute I’m struggling with suppliers to commit to making it that heavy.
I'm also a bit tired of people using sustainability as a push to sell clothes. It should be something you do regardless and not a way to try and increase sales. It doesn't feel natural or honest. People should offer to help other brands practices become more sustainable so that more can benefit in my eyes.
What lessons are still to be learned?
We need to educate people on what sustainability is and how it works. Too many people use it as a blanket term like good or bad and it's not the case.
It's a process and it must be respected and nurtured so that it can become more available for all.
Where do you see the Ronning brand going next?
We will grow our product base and we will increase the colour offerings to give more options to a wider consumer base. We'll also still do lots of smaller more conceptual pieces to keep the brand interesting to all.
It's give and take, offer something more out there and then something for everyone. A nice concept that offers something for everyone on a variety of levels
