Combining high-tech fabrics with traditional materials like tweed, and boasting fans including sprint star Marcel Kittel, MEAME are a London-based clothing brand specialising in 'performance fashion for discerning cyclists.'
The MEAME range is designed to meet the performance needs of commuters, but if you've ever seen their herringbone tweed jackets and beautiful leather gloves about town you'll know they're smart enough to wear in the office or boardroom too.
With the brand nearing the end of its first crowdfunding campaign, Sportive.com caught up with founder Megan Aylott to find out more.
Megan, tell us a bit about how MEAME came into life - what led you to set up a cycling apparel brand?
After the Boris Bikes came out, I started to enjoy commuting in the city in a different way (finally off stuffy tubes and buses). Steven, my husband encouraged me to start cycling and bought me my first bike in London and first bike since I was a teenager!
After arriving at meetings dripping wet, and worried about how visible I was I started looking for something suitable. The obvious choice is a hi vis... but they aren't exactly flattering, are they?
I have a fashion background and have worked on innovative textiles in the past. So after searching for months and hearing so many people not willing to wear hi vis or waterproofs the penny dropped so to speak - why can't performance, safety and fashion all merge?
That's when we started getting to work.... And MEAME was brought to market two years later after extensive development, with a passion to develop a beautiful product and make something that helped the wearer.
Are you a cyclist yourself, or were you more inspired by the sight of the growing numbers of cyclists on London's streets in recent years?
First-hand experience as a city cyclist was what inspired me to look deeper and with the rapidly growing numbers of cyclists there seemed to be great potential.
We are all becoming more conscious of our health and wellbeing, and with government incentives, cycling infrastructure being put in place, and over stretched and unpredictable pubic transport - cycling to work is much more appealing and a great way to get fit. We need clothes that take us from A to B, and beyond.
Your background is in high-end fashion design but even among cyclists, bike commuters aren't known for their sense of style! What do you think of the current state of cycling wear?
The cycling scene is evolving in the UK as more people take it up there is a demand for different options.
Some people like wearing sporty clothing on their bike and then some want to look smart and stylish, so they can go seamlessly through their day. We all lead busy lifestyles so creating clothing that works for all your daily needs, performs well and looks great is like having your cake and eating it. And we all like cake!
Tweed seems to be enjoying a resurgence among cyclists, with events like the Tweed Run and Eroica Britannia celebrating the vintage look. Are you a fan of that nostalgia trend, or are you more interested in pushing a contemporary style?
Vintage style has a place and is great fun for so many people. Mixing vintage and contemporary is often a starting point when developing a new range. As a company, we believe in creating clothing that doesn't go out of season within a year, creating modern classics that are timeless.
I don't expect we'll see fluoro yellow or lycra in MEAME garments anytime soon, but tell us about some of the cycling specific features in your designs?
We've worked on cycling specific features in two ways; through creating fabrics and also clever tailoring.
With the fabric we created our own tech textiles here in the UK which has hidden reflectives. The idea is that it looks like a premium herringbone fabric during the day, then in dark conditions when light hits the fabric it reflects light making the wearer more visible.
We have a very skilled team of pattern cutters, who have created tailoring that really aids the movement for a cyclist. For example we have pleated shoulders to help movement, zips on the sleeves of our biker jacket so that you can open it slightly for a little bit of fresh air, or completely remove them when it's a little hotter.
I wore my biker jacket last summer as a gilet when I was training for the Prudential RideLondon sportive. I'd wear leggings and a top with the gilet and go for a 45 mile ride. Living in England, it still rains in the summer so our gilet helps keep your body dry and comfortable.
Thanks Megan!
MEAME's range may have a timeless appeal, but time is running out to support the brand's crowdfunding campaign. With just one day left, act fast if you'd like a share in MEAME's journey to bring classic cycling style to the streets: visit www.crowdcube.com to get involved.
For more on the current range, visit www.meame.co.uk.
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