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David Gandy on Wellwear, Mental Health and Fatherhood
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David Gandy on Wellwear, Mental Health and Fatherhood
David Gandy Wellwear

David Gandy on Wellwear, Mental Health and Fatherhood

David Gandy Dressed Down as You’ve Never Seen Him Before

David Gandy is a man who needs no introduction. His name alone is recognised all around the world, but for the few for whom it doesn’t ring a bell, his distinct dark features and piercing blue eyes are bound to jog a memory or two. The supermodel is one of those naturally charming men who you would happily give as a reference to your personal trainer, barber and tailor. His good looks and charisma has served him well throughout his 20-year plus career run, which includes a countless number of billboards, front covers and campaigns, including an impressive 15-year stint with Dolce and Gabanna (who could forget the iconic Light Blue ad).

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Ahead of the launch of his new apparel and wellbeing brand, David Gandy Wellwear, we caught up with him to discuss everything from his first wellness experience, his mental health struggles, parenthood, his love for James Bond, and much more.

David Gandy Wellwear

Gandy appears rested and rejuvenated as he welcomes us (virtually) with a smile into his sun-drenched London home, fresh from taking his own and his neighbor’s dog for an early walk around Richmond Park. He mentions that the activity is a nice way to start the day, especially as he has work emails rolling in early every day. He finds that he can kill two birds with one stone by writing emails and making phone calls when outside.

The ambassador for Vitabotics’ Wellman wears a classic black V-neck T-shirt, a khaki green cap, and is sporting a mustache, “I’ve always got some growth” he later says whilst stroking it and laughing, a look that most men wouldn’t be able to pull off but he does so effortlessly. Gandy passionately describes why it’s important to make his customers feel “relaxed and secure” and “allow people to feel comfortable in their own skin.” In David Gandy Wellwear’s press release it says “being naturally shy” meant he used tailoring as a “suit of armor.” That’s why on the call, he says his passion came from creating a brand that he has 100% control over and designing pieces in a way that he would wear. He didn’t start the brand with only himself in mind however, as he and his team researched the most popular styles to offer a positive wellbeing brand for everyone. The label turned out to be a lockdown labor of love as he feels online shopping is “missing that personal touch” that he hopes to offer along with “quality, fit, style, softness, and great customer service.”

Even though the entrepreneur wouldn’t describe DGW as a sustainable brand he believes that producing pieces with anti-odor and anti-bacterial properties such as aloe vera plant extract and biodegradable fabrics including pima cotton, lyocell, and modal will make you look and feel good, knowing you have invested in items that will last longer and reduce your impact on the environment. They also considered the psychological benefits of wearing smooth fabrics that have been proven to reduce negative emotions and improve general wellbeing.

Has he always been this mindful? After a brief moment of reflection, he recalls his first wellness, or as he likes to call it “mental wellbeing” experience, as “the simpleness” of wandering through the woods in the fall with his mom, sister, and family dog after school, where they would go for long relaxing walks and collect conkers. Then his face lit up as speaks about the full-circle moment he recently shared with his daughter, where they had the same experience together as he taught her how to stamp on conkers and they laughed and played. “It was just happy memories and that continues with you. That stays with you, just that beautiful wellness and wellbeing,” he adds.

Moving on from what makes him feel good to what keeps him looking so good — Gandy says he hates complicated regimes and after working with the likes of Charlotte Tilbury and others, he finds it’s best to keep things simple and stick to the essentials. He uses a good scrub or mask once/a couple of times a week, SPF daily, a serum and moisturizer in the morning and again a serum and a more intense moisturizer in the evening. Oh and of course, with the renowned Larry King for a best-friend, Gandy recommends investing in a good hairdresser and haircut.

David Gandy Wellwear

Gandy didn’t work out during lockdown, in the conventional sense. When the gyms closed, he found it “a beautiful time” even though he loves the gym and finds it a form of escapism. He was instead able to spend quality time with his family in Yorkshire (the north of England), going for walks in the Three Peaks, cutting down trees, building fences and being physical.

He has also been able to witness his daughter’s personality shine during this period. Speaking gleefully as a proud father, he says there are so many great things about being a dad but the simplicity of being able to be silly and share the same sense of humor makes him so happy. This currently involves whoopee cushions, that he worries might be teaching her bad habits, he says with a laugh.

The emotional connection to clothing is an important part of DGW, so on the topic of mental health, the founder and creative director shared his methods of calming his mind on busy days: switching off his phone, going to the gym for an hour in the evening, listening to Marvin Gaye, avoiding his phone and heading out to pick up a newspaper. Wonder what he reads? Yes, you guessed it, he’s an everyman and likes to get a range as he says it’s good to be informed on a variety of topics and viewpoints.

So it’s no surprise what he ended up doing when the world recently experienced the Facebook/Whatsapp/Instagram shut down — he read. After working all day and hitting the gym, he came home and chose to do some light reading on the history of Porsche, as he is a keen car enthusiast. He is also a big fan of Bond, so we couldn’t help but ask what he thought of No Time To Die. He didn’t share any spoilers but he did say he “absolutely loved it” as it’s a great homage to the previous films in the series, from the music to the action scenes. Also, after being asked in the past, he confirmed with a chuckle that “it’s definitely not me” and on the topic of the next Bond: “Whoever is going to return as James Bond has got a hell of a task on their hands to beat Daniel Craig. Daniel Craig has been incredible.”

David Gandy Wellwear

In a recent documentary called Being James Bond, Daniel Craig was candid about his journey dealing with the highs and lows of being in the spotlight, which is something Gandy has also been open about. He feels that if more people — especially men in the public eye — speak about their mental health, it will break the stereotypical view of mental wellbeing and could help a lot of struggling individuals. He has found it hard to open up during dark periods. “I let it bother me and I let it get to me and it got worse and worse,“ he says. He didn’t talk to someone when he should’ve, saying in many ways he felt man enough to go it alone. He’s proud of where he has come with Wellwear because he often has the final say, and being able to be comfortable in his skin and talk honestly and positively as a leader is so important to him.

Another thing he is passionate about is supporting charities, something he has done for several years and has incorporated within the brand. DGW customers can now donate to their charity sponsor Style For Soldiers, for which he is an ambassador, and CALM, the mental wellbeing charity.

When designing the 20-piece unisex collection, that comes in black, white, navy, gray marl, and khaki, he and the team took inspiration from WFH and traveling styles, with help from Mr. Marvin Gaye. It turns out that Gandy and his team are big Motown fans, and “a song that kept coming up is Marvin Gaye’s ‘Got To Give It Up,’” he says animatedly.

If you are looking for a new versatile piece, Gandy recommends the ‘Ultimate Tee’ in white, a “fundamental in every man’s wardrobe.” For a comfortable pant that “can easily be worn out and about,” look no further than the ‘Heritage Jogger’ in ecru that offers next-level comfort. If day-to-night dressing is more your style, the Heritage Scoop Neck Tees is a good option. Gandy says this “has always been a wardrobe go-to for me and works well from day to night.” Gandy adds that he also loves “the neckline of the Heritage Shawl sweatshirt, and the Ultimate Gilet is great for layering”.

Shop David Gandy Wellwear now at www.davidgandywellwear.com

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