Ken Price is the CEO and Co-founder at Blake Mill – a British label specialising in art-inspired designer dress shirts for men.
After spending over two decades building companies in financial technology and data management, Ken made a career transition into fashion back in 2017.
His previous start up grew out of a tiny office in Wrexham, Wales into a global data business that was ultimately sold to a major financial institution in New York City.
Price went on to join the executive team at a San Francisco based tech startup before rejoining his former business partner to launch Blake Mill out of Manchester (UK).
As CEO he is driving the company’s growth strategy which relies heavily on innovative use of technology and co-creation.
We caught up with Ken Price for the latest edition of our ‘My London’ interview series.
Favourite neighbourhood:
I can’t lie – I love the City, the square mile, particularly on a Thursday after work. It’s buzzing with people who work hard and play hard. In the past 25 years it has transformed into a mesh of skyscrapers juxtapositioned with centuries old pubs and shops. The City is an expose of where we’ve been and where we are going – maybe I’m crazy but I think it’s inspiring.
Favourite place for brunch:
I cannot remember the last time I was out for brunch to be honest. Sunday roast however is a different story. The beef at Hawksmoor is to die for!
Best coffee in London:
I’m not a huge coffee connoisseur and will usually opt for a cappuccino or double espresso at Pret depending on time of the day. With that said, nothing beats my regular morning cup(s) of Brazil Fazenda 7 by North Star Coffee Roasters (blatant plug) while sitting at my desk at home going through email first thing in the morning (I’ve just finished my second cup).
Favourite gallery or museum:
They say that Rome is the largest outdoor museum. I’d argue that London either trumps it, or is a close second. I used to commute to work near Tower Bridge from Chiswick on my bike which took me along Hyde Park and by landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London to name a few. What an inspiring way to start the day.
Tell us a secret:
I used to moonlight in evenings and on weekends as an aerobics instructor in my early 20’s when not working on my daytime job as an engineering sales rep. In fact, that’s when I first developed a taste for wild designs. I used to have spandex shorts custom made (I’m profusely sorry for the images that may conjure up) with the craziest neon colours and patterns. I’m thinking I should have kept this secret to myself…
Favourite place to shop:
It’s cliché but I always love going into Harrods. As someone who grew up in a small town in Canada, Harrods has that international mystique which I’ve never managed to shake. The food hall is spectacular and the entire store dresses up properly at Christmas time. It’s also a great place for people watching. You will see every nationality on the planet in just an hour in Harrods.
Favourite place to find inspiration:
I love having a window seat on the plane when approaching Heathrow from the East on a clear morning. The view of the city proves that chaos can be organised beautifully.
Best London destination for a date:
For dinner I recommend The Bleeding Heart. It’s not easy to find which adds to the allure. The food is excellent but not pretentious. They have a great wine selection, and the rolling cheese board is to die for (evidenced by the stench as you walk past it…)
Favourite park:
All of them! Proliferation of parks makes London one of the most amazing big cities in the world. St. James Park sticks out for me.
Favourite food market:
Borough Market is awesome. I’ve not been for a while but have had some great meals at Roast and picked up various bits and pieces from the shops there.
Your sanctuary in the city:
I don’t have one in particular. Sometimes it’s one of the many parks on a sunny day. At others, it’s a quiet pub with a mate and a pint of lager. Sanctuary is not always easy to find in London.
What inspires you?
People inspire me. People who have overcome major obstacles, worked hard, dreamt big and achieved great things. That covers a broad range of people from Malala to Lewis Capaldi and Elon Musk, to Captain Tom Moore.
This season I’m loving…
My recently re-waxed Barbour jacket is getting a lot of use. Hey, I live in Manchester! My ON Cloudmonster trainers are awesome also. I’m not a big fan of running but these trainers make it tolerable.
