Pen Wiwar has burst on the fashion and hiking scene in North Wales this Summer, already selling out of stock twice since its launch official launch in March 2024.
A new clothing brand born on the outskirts of Eryri National Park – Pen Wiwar is all about creating and designing outdoor leisure wear that celebrates North Wales’s epic landscapes and lush nature.
From the rugged peaks of Eryri to the tranquil shores of Anglesey, they collaborate with local artists on every design to beautifully capture the natural wonders that surround us.
Not only about the look, all of Pen Wiwar’s product lines are ethically and sustainably produced – from every stitch to every drop of ink that goes into making their designs.
At Digidol, we love seeing new Welsh start-ups thrive, especially when they promote the land of our fathers. So, we got in touch with Dan Grant, the founder, to learn more about the inspiration, success and future of Pen Wiwar!
What was the inspiration behind starting Pen Wiwar?
I recently took a year break away – living and travelling around Australia and South East Asia. This truly was an eye-opening year, however, there is always just something about coming back to the stunning natural beauty of North Wales that you just can’t beat.
Shortly after returning home, I thought about all of the beauty and natural landscapes that surround us. From the famous peaks of Eryri to the many hidden treasures throughout the national park that are steeped in history and folklore – that are relatively unknown outside of our communities.
And that’s what sparked the fire to start Pen Wiwar.
What makes Pen Wiwar unique?
The word “wiwar” is the Welsh word for ‘ Squirrel’. Most people think the name has something to do with my ginger hair – but, in reality, seeing a red squirrel scurrying across the canopy was my first moment of awe as a child.
I just remember being out adventuring with my family at Newborough Forest Nature Reserve and trying my best to be as still as possible whilst I was buzzing with excitement.
And for me, Pen Wiwar is about trying to help others recreate that feeling of astonishment. To inspire as many people as possible to get out and explore our breathtaking nature, and to be proud of what we have here in North Wales.
Sustainable and Ethically Sourced Clothing and Prints
At the core of Pen Wiwar is a love for nature and the natural world. We recognise the importance of protecting and preserving our natural environments, as well as raising awareness of environmental sustainability – not only in Wales but across the world for future generations.
All of the materials we use in our clothing are ethically and sustainably produced – from every stitch to every drop of ink that goes into making our designs.
By choosing Pen Wiwar, you’re not just purchasing clothing; you’re joining a movement to safeguard the future of North Wales, and the world. Together, let’s celebrate our cultural heritage, cherish our natural treasures, and inspire generations to come to appreciate the wonders of this remarkable land.
Unique Collaborations with Local Artists
On top of that – we’re also all about collaborating with local artists. We have already completed our first limited edition Collab with Gwenno (CreuCo), a talented local artist who re-developed her love for art during lockdown. Together we brought an epic design of the iconic mountain of Cnicht to life on our Tees.
We’ve only been at it for about five months now but we’ve grown and learned so much within that timeframe. We’ve got so many more exciting designs we’re working on and enthusiastic local artists who we are already in discussions with to join us for a collab.
What has been your favourite part of starting Pen Wiwar?
Easy, the people. Starting Pen Wiwar has given me the opportunity to meet, work with and get to know so many new people in and around Wales.
Starting with the other Welsh businesses that I could not be doing this without, like our local printers Perris & Corr in Penygroes. They have been incredibly helpful and supportive throughout and really bought into the brand – helping us ensure that all of our materials and inks are sustainably produced.
Then the incredible artists whose skill and ability to perfectly capture the Welsh landscape every time – which still amazes me.
Finally, to the Pen Wiwar community. I have been overwhelmed by the support received for Pen Wiwar from all over Wales. From the visitors to the Pen Wiwar stalls at local markets to the online followers and shares (Follow Pen Wiwar on Instagram). It may seem like small things from the outside, but when starting a new business it really does help make all the difference.
What have been the main challenges with starting a new business in 2024?
The incredible support and demand have meant that we have sold out of almost everything twice. A good problem to have in some ways, we are still finding our feet with ordering the right amount of stock and moving forward are confident that we are making progress – in addition to shortening our lead times of getting new stock available when numbers start getting low.
What’s Next For Pen Wiwar?
In the short term, we are moving away from the warm summer months (if you can really say that about summer in North Wales) and shifting to the autumn and winter months ahead. This means we’re busy working on new winter wear so you can keep repping Pen Wiwar throughout the year.
In the longer term, we have so many new exciting ideas and opportunities in the pipeline. We have a list of extremely talented Welsh artists that we are in contact with already to arrange collaborations for more prints, different product ideas and exclusive special edition product runs.
We also have plans for a couple of unique projects with well-known content creators to add value and enhance the experience when receiving one of our products.
The goal is for Pen Wiwar to be more than just a clothing brand. We want to create a community that is welcome for anyone to join, and be inspired by coming to visit and explore Wales!
Digidol And Pen Wiwar Collaboration
I love what Dan is doing with Pen Wiwar. When I first saw the designs I was impressed, but then you delve into the uniqueness of the brand. From working with local artists to only using sustainable and ethically sourced materials, all to promote Cymru, I was immediately interested to see how it was going.
Then you speak to him, and you can’t help but get caught up in his genuine enthusiasm and excitement creating a brand around Pen Wiwar that inspires people to get out and explore.
It was too exciting of a project to not be involved in – that’s when I proposed a collaboration between Digidol and Pen Wiwar.
The proposal was simple, two Welsh start-up businesses partnering together to help promote Wales to the world!
Looking to the future, we are excited to assist Pen Wiwar with its website and marketing ideas to take things to the next level. In return, Dan has been kind enough to share with us some of his new designs and we will be giving you the opportunity to win on our socials.
