Fashion | Brand Focus: 1 of 100
In the most recent Brand Focus DJ Mag catches up with 1 of 100, the Scottish brand reinventing and rebuilding the meaning of limited edition
GLASGOW-BASED brand 1 of 100 celebrated its third birthday in December. What started out as a creative side-project for founder Richard Hume is now his full-time job, continually building on an ethos of community and charity.
Back in 2017, Hume, who has a background in design, wanted to reinvent the meaning of limited edition. “That label had lost its meaning,” Hume says. “Limited edition should be like artwork — something really special. I also felt it was important to encourage a more sustainable, eco-friendly mindset, where everyone in a production chain is treated and paid fairly. From this, 1 of 100 was born.”
At 1 of 100, as the name explains, each project the brand undertakes is limited exclusively to 100 pieces. Producing t-shirts, tote bags and posters, as well as slipmats, tapes and art prints, since its inception the brand has put a big focus on collaborating with artists and record labels — alongside raising money for charity. “Old friends Silicone Soul and their record label Darkroom Dubs were our first ever project, they have the same great attitude as all our collaborators, open to trusting a small brand to create something beautiful that will last,” Hume explains. “I think this stems from the acid house and DIY scene which I love: bringing people together, creativity flows, great things happen.
“The collaboration aspect was a key part of that,” he continues, “celebrating people that inspire me. It’s a curated, eclectic mix of DJs, labels, musicians, authors, street artists, designers — to be honest we’re not restricted, which keeps it really interesting for me and for our followers.”
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In the early days, Hume and 1 of 100 were able to work alongside friends and local artists like Slam, Melting Point and Optimo, and have since linked up with legendary labels like Mo’Wax, Heavenly Recordings, Trojan Records and Mute. Hume isn’t shy about reaching out to potential new collaborators either. “There’s others that I approach because I love their passion for their art and pushing boundaries,” he says. “Sometimes because they have an interesting way of looking at things; creatives like The Golden Filter, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Marshall Jefferson, Adonis or ALFOS.”
Over the last 12 months, Hume has been running 1 of 100 from his house while juggling home life and home-schooling, but he's finally got keys to a place which will become the official 1 of 100 HQ. Not just an office and stockroom, Hume intends to use the space to build with his local community in Glasgow, offer out the space for launches and galleries, and use it as a hub to support other brands in line with Hume’s forward-thinking approach.
With music running through everything the brand does, 1 of 100 are heading for the airwaves, presenting guest shows on Radio Buena Vida, and are even considering releasing records in the future. “There’ll be more brand collaborations this year, too,” Hume says, “We’re branching out... there’ll be skateboards, hats.
“This year’s pipeline of collaborators is building on everything we’ve done so far,” he adds. “We have DJ Charles Webster, Northern Irish composer, artist and musician, Hannah Peel, Greg Foat, and Penelope Trappes. Justin Strauss will also join us with a remix of his Keith Haring t-shirt, and Luke Una is back for a third project.”
• For more collaboration announcements and drop dates, sign up to the mailing list at weare1of100.co.uk