Interview: Bantum's Simeon Hartwig

How did you get started in the world of fashion?
I’ve had some awful jobs, I worked at a ski resort in France where I did a number of things including bring a chef bitch - which basically involved doing anything the chef wanted as well as being a night porter - all for the love of snowboarding, as I got to use the slopes for free. I did some telemarketing and bits, but after university I realised that it was going to take more than my degree to get me the job I wanted. I’ve always had problems getting close to fit my small 5ft 6” frame, so I started designing and making my own stuff and it all went from there.
 
Where did the name come from?
I did a questionnaire for the Hive course I was on, and I asked people to tick a box or suggest a name. ‘Bantam’ was suggested by James from Prime & Principle, who I am really grateful to. It’s actually a boxing weight - but I suffer from dyslexia and accidentally misspelt it, which worked out for the best really as no-one had the name trademarked. The boxing weights work really well for sizing the men’s clothing range but I had to re-think it when I started designing the women’s range; ladies don’t like being referred to as ‘heavy’.
 
You’re best known for your ‘I ♥ Notts’ t-shirts. Where did the inspiration come from?
I did a night course at South Nottinghamshire College in screen printing. One night I ran out of black t-shirts for designs and I was wearing an ‘I ♥ NY’ t-shirt, so I took it off and printed my design on the heart. I think it did so well because Nottingham was getting some bad press about gun crime, and the t-shirt really hit a nerve. We were pretty lucky with that design, and I’m really thankful to those who brought them. Most people know me for this design; now we are trying to push the new ones.
 
Bit ironic, seeing as you’re a Londoner. So why stay here after Uni?
I actually went back to London, after but I had to go back to living with my mum and everything was really expensive. I knew about The Hive in Nottingham from my university days, and that’s why I really came back, I had no experience but I decided to just give it a go. The longer I stay in Notts, the more I realise just how lucky I am. There is a lot of support out there and the size of Nottingham is great, I go everywhere on my BMX. It’s not the prettiest of cities, but I always make sure I walk through the Arboretum at the Forest and see the little budgies, and it’s really special. The cost of living here is great and the creative scene here is brilliant, like the guys at Oh My Gosh and Eternal Spirits. You get to know everyone and there’s room for great collaborations. You can do anything here.
 
It seems like every other person we meet in town is a designer these days…
Nottingham is quite saturated at the moment, but I think that’s good - it makes people raise their game. For example, I create individual tickets for each piece of clothing, which takes ages to do but makes each one individual. Things like that make you stand out from the crowd.
 
What are your favourite places in Nottingham?
Definitely Wild Clothing, Projects, and Montana. I get all my stuff for my shows from Wilko’s - I love that place. And the sandwiches from Bocha are amazing - the owner is part of We Make T-shirts, which just shows how far the creative arm reaches in Notts.
 
What does the future hold for Bantum?
I can’t do anything at a steady pace because I am not organised enough, but either we make it or we break up. I’m just going to see how it goes, and hoping it will blow up for us. I do worry that I am a barrier to people because I’m not business-minded. The ‘I ♥ Notts’ t-shirts didn’t make me a millionaire, but I now have Jimmy, who is my first real member of staff. He will be the future of Bantum - he’s an awesome designer, and he’s organised. It’s the little things he does - like putting the clothes in individual bags when we send them out to shops - that make us more professional and hopefully more successful. There’s no such thing as a one-man fashion company; you need a team.

How did you get involved in Come Dine With Me?
I never answer the landline in our new flat, but one morning I was caught unawares munching on my Coco Pops and I picked up. Turns out it was Come Dine With Me, checking if anyone at my work wanted to apply. I was about to explain that no-one actually works here, but then thought; “Actually, I cook a mean beans on toast...” A few more phone calls later, they came to my crib to record me a bit. I gave them twelve red roses as a bribe, and hey presto!

So is it rigged in any way?
The show’s pretty much how you see it, but each meal’s like six hours long. And when conversations got a bit boring, they’d stop us and bring us back to a slightly more provocative subject. I went in expecting to hate the other participants, but they were all pretty sound. Peter Rabbit’s home is surreal - next time you’re knocking about Kimberley, stop in for a cuppa and check out the beautiful snaps of his Grandma.
 
Just what is ‘The Game’, and how big are you in it really?
Hahhaha, what is The Game? I AM THE GAME! To me life’s a game - like Monopoly, you can land on those damn purples with hotels, but it can get good again when you pass Go and collect £200. The best way to get through the game is not to take it too seriously - and if you can improve your game you’ll find you improve your Facebook addings. And if your game is super-tight, you might even get the the odd Facecrack message from a honey whose attracted to your game - then you know you’re big in The Game. Right now I am struggling on this part of The Game a little, but when it gets better I’ll holler at you and let you know that I am BIG IN THE GAME.

Er, anything else you’d like to say?
I would love to give a shout-out to my screenprinters who have been brilliant, Dot Sports and October, and Premier Embroidery who believed in us, even when they are booked solid they always find the time for us and we owe them a lot. As for my advice to others in the industry, I would just get out there. It’s a rat race and you have to be organised, and if people show interest in you, grab it with both hands and go for it.