Lisa Lavin

It all started in Manchester in the late 80s, a time of thriving youth subcultures; skateboarding and bmxing were on the rise and the ‘madchester’ music scene was about to take the world by storm. Bench was at the heart of this energetic, exciting time, taking its inspiration from the people around it to make innovative, relaxed clothing, purpose built for the urban world they lived in. Back then Bench was a brand worn by people whose sole purpose was to wait for the weekend and go out in style. Office workers whose primary mode of self-expression was the person they became in the middle of a field surrounded by thousands of their peers. A stuffy pub that closed at 11 o’clock was not a big enough stage. This generation was the first to want to ‘large’ their weekend. This generation paved the way for mainstream UK culture. And Bench is still at the very heart of that volatile energy. These strong roots and this energy now resonates globally, with presence in over 30 countries and our own stores in the UK, Canada , Germany, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, South Africa, and Russia. From our humble beginnings to our global status, we’ve stayed relevant and true by constantly striving to create innovative, fashionable clothes inspired by real people and the real lives they lead. We are present in iconic and eclectic music festivals, clubs and events worldwide, bringing our dynamic Bench energy to our people in their moments.