Uggly&Co didn't start in a boardroom. It started at the side of a track, with oil on our hands and laughter and good vibes around us. That's what racing's all about - competitive, but camaraderie, and at the end of the day, enjoying life.
This isn't a brand built from a mood board. It's built from a family — real racers, real graft, and years spent growing up in the paddock, long before we had any ideas or plans to build a clothing brand.
HOW IT STARTED
Al's been around bikes since he was a kid. Not a hobby he picked up — it's just what he did.
Before that though, it was cars. A young Al nicked his grandad's old Mini Cooper and took it drifting round an old petrol station forecourt — got caught, got in trouble, and lost his licence before he'd hardly had it. Determined to still get his kicks, he turned to bikes instead. Same story followed — lost his bike licence for speeding too. The only place left he could still ride was the track. So that's exactly what he did.
He raced at a proper level, going wheel to wheel in championships on a par with a modern-day British Supersport grid, lining up alongside riders who are household names in the sport now. He rode KTM Dukes, took a wildcard race start ahead of MotoGP at Silverstone, and never did any of it the easy way.
Back then it was no-frills. When Al started out he was green — green enough to turn up to a track and ask which way the circuit went. Guessing tyre pressures with a kick of the boot. Borrowing a mate's dog tags just to get out on track. Ripping up gaffa tape to make race numbers because that's what you had. That's how it was. Working a waste management job through the week to fund racing at the weekend — because tyres, fuel, and a shot at the start line don't pay for themselves.
Motorsport gives you as much as it takes. Al lost his best mate in a motorcycle accident, riding together, and it changed how he saw the sport and the people in it. He's broken his back and still lines up today, racing in the British Enduro Championship. That's not a slogan. That's just what graft and resilience actually look like.
THE BLACK DUB
In 2016, doctors told Al to step away from work — stress, health, needing a break. He headed to the Isle of Man for some peace and quiet. Bad timing, or perfect timing, depending how you look at it — he landed right in the middle of TT week.
The orange army pointed him into the forecourt of a derelict old petrol station so he could get off the course. Now it's known as the Black Dub. Standing there with the noise, the speed, and that raw TT atmosphere all around him, the idea for Uggly&Co was born — casual clothing built from the real side of racing. Not the podium shots. The paddock. The fans. The camaraderie. Enjoying it for exactly what it is — raw adrenaline, and living life to the full, every single time.
GROWN, NOT MADE
Co-founder Tooey & Emily grew up in that same world. Both pulled around the garage on toolboxes before he could walk properly. Learning to ride before most kids learn to ride a bike with stabilisers off. This isn't a brand that got built around a lifestyle — the lifestyle came first, the brand came after.
That's the difference. We're not inspired by paddock life. We were raised in it.
WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
Camaraderie. Graft. Freedom. Unity. The stuff that's always mattered in the pits and the garage, long before Uggly&Co existed — sparkies, chippys, tradesmen, and grafters putting in the hours all week for a shot at the weekend.
We're not chasing trends and we're not here to impress anyone. No front, no levels — bin man to king, everyone gets treated the same. What you see is what you get.
Every piece we make is built the same way — worn-in, weathered, made to last, with subtle utility running through it. Not because it looks good on a rail. Because that's what proper gear should do — go the distance, same as you.
If you’ve been around it, you’ll get it. If not, you will soon enough.
