Why I Called It Natural Man
Nine years ago, a simple idea took root — one shaped by my interests, my values, and a genuine love of the outdoors.
We're lucky enough to own a patch of woodland, and I spend as much time there as I can. Walking with the dog. Building a fire in the pit. Cooking over it. Switching off from the noise of modern life and reconnecting with something quieter and older. It was in those woods that my interest in bushcraft really took hold, and it was there that the seed of Natural Man was planted.
In the early days, the business reflected that directly — bushcraft, hiking, camping, and the gear and clothing that goes with a life spent outside. Over time, the range grew to include other outdoor and heritage styles: workwear with a history, American legacy brands, clothing originally made for loggers, hunters and people who worked the land. Different worlds, but connected by the same thread.
Everything we stock is made from natural materials. That has never changed.
A World of Plastic
It's hard to look around and not notice.
So much of what we buy today is designed to be replaced. Clothing built from synthetics. Furniture priced to fail. Tools treated as throwaway. Fast fashion trains us to consume more and value less, and we're constantly told that newer is always better.
We don't believe that.
Some of the finest products ever made have barely changed in decades — in some cases, centuries. A wool jumper is still a wool jumper. A leather belt is still a leather belt. A good pocket knife remains one of the most useful things you can carry. Progress isn't always about reinvention. Sometimes it's about recognising when something already works — and leaving it alone.
Natural Materials That Earn Their Place
Natural Man was built on a respect for materials that have proved themselves over generations — not through marketing, but through use.
Wool. Cotton. Waxed canvas. Leather. Wood. Steel.
These materials don't need improving. That's exactly why we're drawn to them.
They develop character. A waxed jacket picks up creases and marks from years of wear. A leather wallet softens and darkens with time. A wool overshirt becomes more comfortable with every season. A pocket knife gathers the scratches of a life well lived. The story of the person who owns them becomes part of the object itself. We think that's something worth holding onto.
The Outdoors Has Always Been Part of This
Natural Man isn't about extreme adventure — though I'll admit I often take the long way up the mountains of Eryri.
But you don't need to climb anything to appreciate being outside. Sometimes it's a walk through woodland. A morning with a fishing rod. A weekend under canvas with good company. An afternoon in the garden. A quiet hour beside a fire.
Many of our customers share a straightforward belief: life is better when it includes time outdoors. The modern world moves fast. Nature has a way of slowing things down. That balance feels worth protecting.
The Brands We Choose
Every brand we stock has something in common. They build things with purpose — not because they're fashionable, not because they're trending, but because they make things properly.
Filson has spent more than a century clothing loggers, prospectors and outdoorsmen. Swanndri built its name on wool garments tough enough for New Zealand's most unforgiving conditions. Iron and Resin bring heritage craft and a modern spirit of adventure together. &SONS draw from traditional workwear and enduring design. Casström make knives and tools meant to be used, not displayed. Red Wing make boots designed to be worked in.
They come from different corners of the world. But they all stand for the same things: quality, natural materials, durability and craft. So do we.
Buying Better, Not More
We're not in the business of filling wardrobes. We'd rather own fewer things and use them well.
One great jacket. One dependable pair of boots. One reliable knife. One bag that goes everywhere with you.
When something is built properly, you develop a relationship with it. It becomes familiar. Trusted. Just part of life. The best purchases are often the ones you eventually stop thinking about — because they simply do their job, year after year, without asking anything of you.
More Than Products
Natural Man has never really been about selling things. It's an extension of my own wardrobe and my own passions. The clothing, footwear, knives and bags are expressions of something bigger.
A belief that quality still matters. That natural materials often outperform synthetic alternatives. That craftsmanship deserves to be valued. That time spent outside is rarely wasted. And that the things we own should genuinely enrich our lives — not just fill space.
Where We Are Now
The business has grown since those early days in the woodland. The philosophy hasn't moved an inch.
We're still drawn to natural materials. Still fascinated by heritage brands and traditional craft. Still inspired by the outdoors and the people who make time for it. With few exceptions, everything we sell today is built for outdoor life — and it will almost always outlast and outperform cheaper synthetic alternatives. A Filson waxed canvas jacket costs more than a synthetic equivalent. But you'll have it longer, wear it better, and never regret buying it.
Quality gear built for life will always beat disposable products built for a season. We've believed that from the start.
Final Thoughts
The name Natural Man isn't about being perfect.
It's about staying connected to the things that matter. Nature. Craftsmanship. Heritage. Quality. Adventure. Purpose.
It's about choosing things that age well and experiences that stay with you. About slowing down occasionally and appreciating what's in front of you.
A good shirt. A dependable knife. A favourite jacket. A walk through the woods. A campfire at the end of the day.
Those are the things that inspired Natural Man. And they're the things that still do.
Mark Iveson
Founder
