6 minute read
Tomorrow's talent
Talking to tomorrow's talent
We’re showcasing the rising stars and talented youngsters who are changing our city’s future for the better…
Name:
Alexander Robinson-Wood Title:
Owner and founder of Genu Prima
My connection to Sunderland is...
I have lived here since I was 2-years-old. My family has a deep-rooted connection with the area, spanning generations. I still attend school in the area, where I’m in my final year.
How has the city shaped your business?
Being a Sunderland resident and having a passion for spotting rising trends in the local area, I have noticed an upsurge - particularly amongst students and young people - on the need for a fresh new take on casual-wear, with other brands simply not being able to adapt to the market.
How did you get to where you are now?
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Since I was young I have been creating businesses, with my first example being a website for my local park, which I published when I was just 9-years-old.
What is the inspiration behind Genu Prima?
During lockdown, my feed across social media was flooded with people buying from cheap fast-fashion suppliers, sometimes spending large amounts per order. This made me research why these brands were so cheap, and I was alarmed to find that many brands use questionable, even illegal, work practices, and contribute massively to the fashion industry’s terrible environmental footprint.
Why did you launch Genu Prima?
We launched Genu Prima as an affordable alternative to the immoral, fast-fashion industry, which thrives off of poor quality materials and exploitation of both people and our planet.
Genu Prima is different to other clothing brands in three ways. These three ‘principles’ have been defined since we launched: SUSTAINABILITY - all materials, packaging and logistics are entirely carbon neutral. We use organic cotton, and recycled polyester across our ranges. All transport is also offset using an algorithm that calculates our carbon emissions, and then offsets them using data from the Verified Carbon Standard. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - we believe that a 21st century brand should be socially conscious. This means enforcing strict rules around hate, whichever form it may take. We have also worked with charities such as The Trussell Trust, launching a collection in aid of them. GENDER-NEUTRALITY - all of our products across every range are designed to fit all. We believe that gender shouldn’t be a dividing factor in clothing, or in any industry, and this is why no Genu Prima product will ever be gender-specific.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
was creating my not-for-profit, NoToAntisemitism.org, and most recently, Genu Prima, which I was proud to create during a difficult time for everyone.
What is your five year plan?
In five years time, we hope to have made a lasting impact on the industry, and forcing it to change how it operates. In addition, we hope to have made our products more mainstream and less of a niche, as we believe sustainable fashion shouldn’t be exclusive to only those who can currently afford it.
What advice would you give to other young entrepreneurs in the city?
My advice to other entrepreneurs would simply be to find your passion, follow it and never be told otherwise.
Tell us one rule you live by?
A rule I live by is to continually learn from my experiences, including my mistakes.
Shout out to another local business doing great things in Sunderland?
Thunderbolt Design, another Sunderlandbased business, has helped us massively with the designs, graphics and website for Genu Prima. They were great at using our ideas and making them a reality, with an unrivalled response time.
GENUPRIMA.CO
with Sunderland Vibe
To celebrate the Easter holidays we’re helping kids get crafty in the home by giving Vibe readers and their little ones the chance to WIN £100 Sunderland Gift Card and FEATURE IN OUR MAGAZINE for the best decorated egg! Egg decorating competitions take place in schools across Sunderland, the North East and beyond every Easter. We were so blown away by entries last year, so we’re stepping things up a notch with the return of our very own Sunderland Vibe Egg Decorating Competition. The theme for this year? We want to see egg decorations inspired by Roker Pier!
Want to get your creation in the headlines and win £100 Sunderland Gift Card? All you have to do is simply create your own egg-cellent masterpiece, like our Facebook page, tag @SunderlandVibe in your post and use the hashtag #VibeEasterEgg. Simple! Our Sunderland Vibe Egg Decorating champion will be announced via Facebook on Easter Monday, 5 April 2021.
T&Cs: Participants must like Sunderland Vibe Facebook page. Images must be shared via our Sunderland Vibe Facebook page tagging @SunderlandVibe and using the hashtag #VibeEasterEgg. Only one winner will be announced. Other terms and conditions are available on request from: rebecca@remembermedia.co.uk. Closing date: Sunday 4th April 2021.
Whether it be our roaring coastline, enchanting woodlands or one of our many peaceful parks, we've explored the great outdoors in many forms over the last year or so. Here, we're looking back at the construction of one of Sunderland's most iconic landscapes...
Credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Who: River Wear Commission What: Roker Pier begins to take shape Where: River Wear, Roker Sunderland When: 1885 - 1903 Why: To help absorb the treacherous, powerful waves from the North Sea and allow visiting ships a safe passage into the city as trade and commerce flourished in the city.
Progress at Roker Pier...
Our new longing for localised discovery is a great pathway into learning more about our history and heritage. We’re all firmly aware of our industrial and coal mining links from bygone eras, but whether it be the Washington Viaduct from 1838, or the remnants of Ryhope East Station, these urban artefacts have a different story to tell about our past. One of Sunderland’s more popular walking destinations is undoubtedly Roker Pier. We all know and love the businesses that currently reside there now, but do you ever stop and think; ‘how did they even build this?’. Well, this is where we introduce the breathtaking images of the construction of Roker Pier from 1889. This set of images are taken from a scrapbook kept by Henry Hay Wake, chief engineer to the River Wear Commission. Henry Wake designed Roker Pier and managed the construction phase from beginning to end. The Pier's foundation stone was first laid in September 1885 and it was 18 year laters that the Pier was formally opened on 23 September 1903. The Pier is 2,800 feet long and was built with Aberdeen granite and concrete cement at a total cost of £290,000 - around £38m in today's economy! Many of our ancestors would have worked on this gigantic project back then. So, WE’D LOVE TO HEAR ALL ABOUT YOUR MEMORIES AND STORIES FROM LIFE IN AND AROUND THE CITY. GET IN TOUCH ON SOCIAL MEDIA USING THE #VIBEVAULT HASHTAG!
when you’re out and about, sipping on a flat white from one of our lovely coffee shops and meandering towards the lighthouse, take a minute to think about how one of Sunderland’s most iconic landmarks came to life all those years ago!
