Street thread

It was a dream come true when postman Karl Mizen launched his urban fashion brand, Alpha Senate, last year.

'Since I was 14, it was my ambition to have my own brand, developing my own clothing line,' said Karl. 'As a kid I was always doodling and drawing – this feels like the culmination of that.'

After training as an architect, Karl has worked part-time for Royal Mail at the Salisbury Green Delivery Office for the past three years, and says the flexibility of the role is perfect for allowing him time to build his brand.

'It’s ideal as it has freed up a lot of time for me,’ he added. ‘Although it’s physically demanding, I love having my Sundays free.'

Karl came up with the name Alpha Senate as he wanted to foster a community of like-minded people interested in self-development and leadership – a senate of alphas.

'I’m constantly trying to learn, improve and be the best version of myself, and I want to share that with others,’ said Karl. ‘The market was already saturated with motivational quotes on T-shirts, so I brought in my love of tattoo and street art culture. And, since then, I’ve gathered much more interest. It’s become something people are really vibing with.'

It wasn’t an easy road to building his brand, though. While the concept has been in the works for years, Karl built the website and business from scratch over four blistering months. His experience as a delivery driver was crucial.

'I’m out there delivering loads of brands, taking note of what they’re doing, seeing the quality of their products. It’s an amazing insight,' he said.

It may have been a challenging journey to get here, but Karl has big plans for the future.

'I’ve got a few brands in my crosshairs now,’ added Karl. ‘Watch out, the underdog is coming.'