We live in a world where the ownership of a sizeable Instagram following or dubiously-earned renown is enough to qualify you as a bona fide business person. Take Kendall Jenner’s foray into the tequila business, for instance, or the well-known parfumier Billie Eilish and her fragrance lines. So it would be understandable if you mistook David Gandy’s Wellwear brand as a cynical capitalisation on his position as one of the world’s most famous and longstanding male models. Understandable, though quite wrong.
For a start, he has a good claim to know what he’s talking about. ‘Having modelled for over two decades, I think it’s fair to say I’ve worn more clothing that most guys might do in a lifetime,’ he says. ‘Launching my own brand is something that has been in my head for many years, but I didn’t want to start something for the sake of it. It had to be authentic to me and have a purpose. I’ve always trained hard and the physical benefits are obviously important in the industry I’m in. But it’s the mental benefits of exercise that I find the most rewarding. In launching Wellwear, I wanted to apply the same principle to clothing, and create a range that has a positive effect on the wearer’s mental well-being as much as the physical.’
Launched in 2021 as a modest 20-piece collection of essential basics – the perfect tee, perfectly proportioned swimshorts, sweats and polos – Gandy has since built on this foundation by further leaning in to this sensory, reactive, almost psychological relationship we have with the clothes we wear. Technical fabrics have been a focus of many luxury menswear brands over the past decade, but here the emphasis has traditionally been on performance – super-lightweight materials, textiles created to withstand the elements – no matter that the majority of wearers would have no intention of putting them to the test. But Gandy’s approach to technology in clothing is altogether more holistic.
‘It was important to me that I moved the narrative forward, so the idea with Wellwear is to create a new category that combines style with well-being,’ he says. ‘In a world where we’re increasingly preoccupied with self-care, I’m trying to bring the clothing industry up to speed. We take a multi-sensory approach to design, exploring the scientific benefits of soft, comfortable garments, with the belief that every piece should be both physically and emotionally durable. We know that simply touching smooth fabrics can lead to a boost in oxytocin, enhancing our psychological well-being and reducing negative emotions. So we’ve responsibly sourced the softest, highest quality fabrics we can, then treated them with unique properties to help the wearer feel better.’
These treatments include Wellwear Breathe, which uses nanotech to reduce bacteria and odours and increase comfort, meaning more wearing, less washing, and both a happier wearer and environment. There’s also Wellwear Care, which further softens the fabrics with the moisturising, anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe Vera, plus Wellwear Protect, which is applied to all Swim and Poolside pieces to block out 97% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Does Gandy himself have any favourite or recommended pieces for the holiday season?
‘As a family we spend a lot of the summer in Greece (my partner Stephanie is half-Greek), and from years of experience I’m a very light packer, so I only take a few key pieces with me. Our Ultimate Swim Shorts (the shorts length is the most flattering cut around), in my opinion, along with the Towelling Shirt and Shorts set are what I pretty much live in when we’re there. But the new Ultimate Linen Tee is my current favourite and I’ve been wearing it non-stop this summer.
‘My personal style icons are the Hollywood greats like Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. They wore simple white t-shirts with jeans and yet are still spoken about in style terms today. I wanted Wellwear to be as timeless and effortless as their style was, but with the added technical details for the modern man who expects a little more from his clothing.’
