Awling Sits Down With Murray Crane

Founder Murray Crane caught up with Awling and discussed all things menswear, New Zealand’s approach to it and why he’s so fond of handcrafted goods. Read a shortened copy below or visit Awling to read to full interview.

Hi Murray, thanks for finding some time to speak to us. Let’s start with getting some background on yourself. Where did you grow up and how did you find yourself a career in menswear?

Thanks for having me. I grew up in a very small town on the South Island of New Zealand – it's about as far away from fashion as you can get but I stumbled into fashion at an early age. I think it appealed to me as it seemed perfect for my set of skills: basically average at lots of things and not very good at one. I always detested school and studying so I am completely unqualified to do anything. My first business was actually making belts so I have always liked quality leather goods.

What drew you to Awling and can you tell us about your first impressions?

Given I have not been travelling during the pandemic I discovered Awling on Instagram. I’ve always been drawn to British brands – they tug at my colonial heartstrings. Given my formative years in fashion involved making belts, it piqued my interest as I could see that a lot of thought had gone into the product and it was quality.

Can you explain your curated edit of Awling belts and how you see them working with your customer base? You’ve opted for only one Original, and the rest are either Modernist or Pavilion, both of which are the boldest styles available…

We have a pretty expansive selection of belts under Private Label so I really wanted to cherry-pick the pieces that showed the flair and design aesthetic of the brand. I love the contrast whipping and two-tone buckles. They definitely pack a punch in terms of their design.

What’s your favourite Awling belt and how do you see yourself wearing it?

I am wearing the Pitch Black & Pewter Pavilion Belt. It feels like the perfect shape and size to wear with jeans. I normally wear it with an off-white denim five-pocket trousers and Chelsea boots (in black, of course). I could imagine Gram Parsons rocking this belt and that appeals.

Read the full interview on Awling's website.