This is Ryan Mallinson, founder of Mallin & Son.
Early starts, honest work, and restoring things built to last.
Morning Routine
I’m up at 4am Monday to Friday - in the gym by 5. It’s non-negotiable. Staying fit means I can keep up with the kids, and I like getting ahead while the world’s still asleep.
Home by 6, then it’s breakfast, shower, and straight into the pre-school routine from 7.
Family Life
Starting early helps, but I don’t always get the balance right. Evenings are for family - clubs, chaos, all of it.
I set clear weekly goals to stay focused. Otherwise, it’s easy to work endlessly and feel like you’ve achieved nothing. I also put boundaries on emails and social - without that, it quickly becomes noise.
Switching off is still the hardest part. I live and breathe the brand.
Business Insights
Mallin & Son started with a single jacket. I picked up an old Barbour that needed reproofing and realised how little awareness there was around it - especially back in 2019 as sustainability started gaining traction.
I printed flyers and handed them out across Leeds to anyone wearing a wax jacket. Evenings were spent driving around Yorkshire collecting and returning pieces - very much “service with a handshake.”
When Covid hit, everything moved online. Now we serve customers from Yorkshire to Japan.
Industry Trends
It’s less about trends, more about quality. A lot of heritage brands have lost their way - cutting corners, chasing margin.
That’s pushed people towards vintage. Pieces made 20–30 years ago often outperform what’s made today.
At the same time, it’s created space for smaller, independent brands to step in - focusing on UK manufacturing, quality, and longevity.
Personal Favourite
My vintage Barbour Solway Zipper.
Longer cut, incredibly durable - you can throw anything under it. Properly made, built to last.
Business Philosophy
Integrity, first and foremost. Doing the right thing - for family, customers, and partners.
My name’s on the door, so it matters.
At its core, it’s about helping people invest in better garments - pieces that let them get outside, spend time with family, and live well.
If rewaxing a jacket plays even a small part in that, that’s enough.
Challenges & Successes
Growth has been the biggest shift. A wider audience means more voices, more opinions - and learning not to take things personally.
You remember the few negative comments far more than the hundreds of positive ones. Resetting that mindset is ongoing.
I’m also guilty of not celebrating wins - always looking to what’s next. It drives progress, but it’s something I’m working on.
That said, the last year has opened some exciting doors - particularly in TV and film - and brought some brilliant people into the business.
Advice for Aspiriting Entrepreneurs
Don’t be afraid to look silly.
People laughed at the idea of a jacket rewaxing business - but I backed it anyway.
Future Goals
Keep enjoying it. Stay open.
And see where it goes.
Discover more at mallinandson.com
