I recently spoke with Glenn Au, the founder of Junior's - a classically styled men's clothier based out of Philadelphia about his personal style, influences, and to learn more about his latest venture.
Let's start with a fun, perhaps impossible one before we get into Junior's: What is your all time favorite piece of clothing that you own? Why does this piece hold such a special place in your heart?
This is tough. I have a few I can quickly mention. First being my Cartier watch. It was a gift from my wife on our wedding day and it’s special because it always makes me think her, that day and how amazing it was but also because it was her fathers watch. To have something so special in our family is wonderful to me. Really anything that has come from a family member is special to me. Someday I can pass on the watch and hopefully a lot more down to my son.
Second, I have a navy crew neck sweater that was my Uncle Tony’s, he’s Junior, who my business is named after. It doesn’t have any tags in it, no identification of who made it or where it came from but it does have this little fray on the collar that makes me happy knowing he wore it well for a long time and I plan to do the same with it.
Lastly, my Barbour Beaufort. I bought it maybe 6 or 7 years ago brand new. Over that time it’s become my second skin in the colder months and the wear is starting to show. I was always so envious of lived in Barbour jackets and I finally feel like mine is getting there. Funny now people ask me how old mine is when I would do the same to others years ago. It feels great to own something for so long and have it look even better. That can be said for everything I mentioned above.
What is Junior's and what inspired you/led you to the creation of the brand?
Looking at Junior's overarching aesthetics/styling, there is clear inspiration from traditional/ivy league styling. How, in your mind, is Junior's work inspired by these aesthetics/moments?
I think a lot of that inspiration comes from my foundations in the industry and who I am as a person. The store I first worked at, O’Connell’s in my hometown of Buffalo, NY, is probably the best traditional haberdashery in the country. There I learned all about classic American style, hard wearing English cloth and warm Shetland sweaters. All of which age so well. They never look out dated, they only look better with age.
Those same foundations are what I’m applying at Junior’s. Well made American clothing, Scottish Shetland sweaters and an overall timeless approach to building a wardrobe. Personally, I also feel better and look better when I buy for longevity and timelessness. I like to get attached to my clothing and have it be a true part of my life, not just something within it.
In menswear, there is a continuous interplay (and sometimes even a tension) between tradition and trend - how does Junior's navigate this?
Put simply, we don’t. However, to clarify, there are always small changes in classic men’s clothing that the makers will follow and thus it trickles down to men’s closets. For example, coat length goes up and down ever so slightly, lapel widths, trouser shapes, but to me, the overall styles never change. I will always recommend a 3/2 roll front coat, cuffs on trousers and button-down collar shirts for example. They’re classics for a reason, they always look good. Unlike most fashion brands, we tend to look back in time for inspiration and don’t try and guess what the next big trend will be.
What do you look towards for design, style, and lifestyle inspiration on a daily basis?
The easiest is to look back. Look back at old photos of Ivy League students, Paul Newman and JFK’s style, etc. But sometimes it’s also people closest to you, family and friends. I have so many friends with great style and I love to try something I saw them do. No one ever thinks their family has style but my wife, her mother and her father and grandfather are all stylish people to me. Junior, my Uncle Tony, too. They are and were always so comfortable looking. They feel comfortable in what they’re wearing and that’s a major factor in being stylish. Aside from direct clothing inspirations, I tend to gravitate towards most things made by a craftsman, be it a building, work of art or clothing.
Who are few of your style icons?
This list could be very long. Antonio Panico, Otto Mantero are a couple off the top of my head. But friends and colleagues always come to mind. Chase Winfrey of J. Meuser, Matt Smith owner of Rebels & Rogues Vintage, Dan Tunji formerly of P Johnson and my previous manager, Joel Patton to name a few. But I also admire real people I pass on the streets too. You never know where style inspiration can come from.
Looking ahead, what can we expect from Junior's in the next year?
A steady growth. The plan is for Junior’s to be around for years to come and there is no sense hastily rushing this. I want to have more regularly scheduled pop-up events in Philadelphia or other cities. There could also be a showroom in Philadelphia, too. I expect to expand the offerings of ready to wear on the website with dress and sport shirts maybe along with sport coats. Like I said, I plan on running the whole marathon and not doing just a sprint so with that in mind I hope next year we are talking about what Junior’s five year plan is.
Check out Junior's
Interview and photos by Damian Munoz
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