VIP* Friday, 1 July 2016 Page: 49,48,50 Circulation: 24113 Area of Clip: 443500mm² Page 1 of 7 the climate that we have in Ireland, people generally lend to wear the same stuff all the year through anyway! RUGBY LEGEND AND ENTREPRENEUR TOMMY BOWE " r CD D£ \ r T wo years ago, Tommy Bowe made the decision to fully immerse himself in the world of fashion. The Ireland and Ulster rugby star was already the face of a successful Lloyd & Pryce shoe range when he started up his own clothes line, XV Kings (pronounced 15 Kings), which has since gone on to sell out nationwide. VIP was invited to meet the dashing 32-year-old for both a look at his spring/summer range, as well as an exclusive sneak-peak of what’s to come for the autumn and winter months. And so, we made the journey up to his native Co. Monaghan, where it all began for him. What did we learn from spending the day with Tommy? Well, firstly, he’s ever-the-pro. When a pair of size eight shoes were brought along instead of Ids size (Eh, 11...), he simply found a pair of scissors and cut out the back, squeezing his poor feet in for the shot. Secondly; as he wras told by our photographer, he is a “very good smiler”; not once, from morning 'till afternoon, did we see him without a big grin plastered across his face - which is of course incredibly infectious. And thirdly; the winger is a true old-school gent. You know the type - opening doors, pulling out chairs, pouring everyone a drink without hesitation, his former Miss Wales wife Lucy Whitehouse is certainly one lucky lady. Speaking of Lucy; we chatted to Tommy about how he’s finding married life, having just celebrated the couple’s 1st anniversary on the trip of a lifetime to the States. Also, in this exclusive interview, Tommy opens up to VIP about how he’s in no rush to start a family, what he does to switch off from rugby and the relentless dressing room banter between the squad... So, Tommy, vve are seriously impressed with your latest XV Kings collections - the business really' is going from strength to strength, isn’t it? Yeah, it’s been going great! We set up the brand two years ago and since then it’s really grown and matured. As each season goes on, it gets that little bit better and we’re always improving things. Pm quite proud to see where vve started in 2014, and how far it’s progressed! When I see people wearing an XV Kings top or jacket with my signature on it, it’s an amazing feeling; And the feedback has been so good - shops are telling us that people come in actually' requesting our stuff, so that’s a testament to the work that’s gone into it. Tell us about the latest range - we want it ALL for our fellas! Yeah we showed off our new jackets that will be coming in, which I love. Our spring/summer stuff kind of naturally' goes into the autumn /winter, you just add an extra piece here and there. With We have to ask Tommy; where did the eye for style come from? Were your parents particularly stylish? Maybe it was instilled in you from your childhood! (Laughs) I don’t think so. 1 wouldn’t say my parents are bad dressers, but they’re not hugely into fashion and neither am I, that’s not what the brands are about. To be honest, it was just one of those things that ended up happening. It all began when I was approached by Barry' and Jim (McCartney; of Shoe City Ltd) who have been in the shoe industry for generations and who wanted to launch a new brand with Lloyd & Pryce. They thought it’d be a nice fit to get someone from Monaghan involved and I just went for it! At the time, I didn’t have a huge idea about shoes, 1 was brand new to the industry'! And the shoe collection has since become a massive success! It has! It’s been five or six y'ears now since we started working together for Lloyd & Pryce and it’s doing extremely well. I’ve learned so much over the years too and I’m still learning, both about the shoes and the clothes. It’s all about trying and testing. It must be nice to have a side project from the rugby, which is so all-consuming. It is nice to have it on the side. Rugby can completely take over your life, so it’s great to have something outside of it to take your mind off it. How do you switch off? I actually have my pilot’s licence, which I’m getting back into after a year and a half It’s something that gives me an adrenaline rush that you can’t replicate. Apart from that, it’s the normal stuff: meeting friends, taking the dog for a walk, going for coffee... What about your team members, do they ever give you a bit of slagging for your new fashionista credentials? The main slagging is that they don’t get any free gear! Ah, at the start there was a huge amount of slagging. People were like; ‘Oh Jesus, what is he doing’. But when they saw the stuff, they suddenly changed their tunc! Who gets the most slagging on the squad? Oh to be a fly on the wall... ^ IMP
Transcript
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the climate that we have in Ireland, people generally lend to wear the same stuff all the year through anyway!
RUGBY LEGEND AND ENTREPRENEUR TOMMY BOWE
" r
CD D£ \ r
Two years ago, Tommy Bowe made the decision to fully
immerse himself in the world of fashion. The Ireland and Ulster rugby star was already the face of a successful Lloyd
& Pryce shoe range when he started up his own clothes line, XV Kings (pronounced 15 Kings), which has since gone on to sell
out nationwide. VIP was invited to meet the dashing 32-year-old for both a look at his spring/summer range, as well as an exclusive
sneak-peak of what’s to come for the autumn and winter months. And so, we made the journey up to his native Co. Monaghan, where it all began for him. What did we learn from spending the day with Tommy? Well, firstly, he’s ever-the-pro. When a pair of size eight shoes were brought along instead of Ids size (Eh, 11...), he simply found a pair of scissors and cut out the back, squeezing his poor feet in for the shot. Secondly; as he wras told by our photographer, he is a “very good smiler”; not once, from morning 'till afternoon, did we see him without a big grin plastered across his face - which is of course incredibly infectious. And thirdly; the
winger is a true old-school gent. You know the type - opening doors, pulling out chairs, pouring everyone a drink without
hesitation, his former Miss Wales wife Lucy Whitehouse is certainly one lucky lady. Speaking of Lucy; we chatted to Tommy about how he’s finding married life, having just celebrated the couple’s 1st anniversary on the trip of a lifetime to the States. Also, in this exclusive interview, Tommy opens up to VIP about how he’s in no rush to start a family, what he does to switch off from rugby and the relentless dressing room banter between the squad...
So, Tommy, vve are seriously impressed with your latest
XV Kings collections - the business really' is going from strength to strength, isn’t it? Yeah, it’s been going great! We set up the brand two years ago and since then it’s really grown and matured. As each season goes on, it gets that little bit better and we’re always improving things. Pm quite proud to see where vve started in 2014, and how far it’s progressed! When I see people wearing an XV Kings top or jacket with my signature on it, it’s an amazing feeling; And the feedback has been so good - shops are telling us that people come in actually' requesting our stuff, so that’s a testament to the work that’s gone into it.
Tell us about the latest range - we want it ALL for our
fellas! Yeah we showed off our new jackets that will be coming in, which I love. Our spring/summer stuff kind of naturally' goes into the
autumn /winter, you just add an extra piece here and there. With
We have to ask Tommy; where did the eye for style come from? Were your parents particularly stylish? Maybe it
was instilled in you from your childhood! (Laughs) I don’t think so. 1 wouldn’t say my parents are bad dressers, but they’re not hugely into fashion and neither am I, that’s not what
the brands are about. To be honest, it was just one of those things that ended up happening. It all began when I was approached by
Barry' and Jim (McCartney; of Shoe City Ltd) who have been in the shoe industry for generations and who wanted to launch a new
brand with Lloyd & Pryce. They thought it’d be a nice fit to get someone from Monaghan involved and I just went for it! At the time, I didn’t have a huge idea about shoes, 1 was brand new to the industry'!
And the shoe collection has since become a massive success! It has! It’s been five or six y'ears now since we started working together for Lloyd & Pryce and it’s doing extremely well. I’ve
learned so much over the years too and I’m still learning, both about the shoes and the clothes. It’s all about trying and testing.
It must be nice to have a side project from the rugby, which is so all-consuming. It is nice to have it on the side. Rugby can completely take over your
life, so it’s great to have something outside of it to take your mind off it.
How do you switch off? I actually have my pilot’s licence, which I’m getting back into after a year and a half It’s something that gives me an adrenaline rush that you can’t replicate. Apart from that, it’s the normal stuff: meeting friends, taking the dog for a walk, going for coffee...
What about your team members, do they ever give you a bit of slagging for your new fashionista credentials? The main slagging is that they don’t get any free gear! Ah, at the
start there was a huge amount of slagging. People were like; ‘Oh Jesus, what is he doing’. But when they saw the stuff, they suddenly
changed their tunc!
Who gets the most slagging on the squad? Oh to be a fly
on the wall... ^
IMP
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mm
w ;l F*Z I
ade the trip up to rugby starflommy Bowe'sJiOTrretown, Glaslough onaghan, where he gave us an exclusive IcjBc at his new collection
’ successful<lpthincjffi|ijaiXV Kings - which haljust celebrated two ars in business. Here^rSnmy wears a navy wooljacket 'Scothia' from
Kings rMge, with a 'Clarington' shirtjeneath, teamed with
ssell' shoes from his collection with Lloyd sSPryce.
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According to Tommy, the slagging in the rugby squad dressing rooms is relentless. "Nobody is safe," he jokes. (This page) Tommy wears XV Kings A/W jacket 'Levis' with the brand's 'Milton' t-shirt and burgundy Lloyd & Pryce shoes 'Roberts'.(Center, top) Tommy wears the same as before. (Center, below and opposite page) Tommy wears XV Kings 'Regine' zip-top.
mm
mm
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;
.
“Rugby can completely take over your life - it’s important
to switch off!”
Listen, it's constant! Because we're together, in each others’ pockets for weeks on end, there's not one ongoing joke — it’s more about day-by-day tilings. If someone puts a tweet out, or uploads a selfie, you get; ‘Ah look at Lite state of ya!’ Even tripping over, saying something stupid on tv, pictures re-surfacing from years ago; you get the piss taken out of you for everything and anything! Nobody is safe!
Who would you be closest to on the team? Do you lads hang out much off the pitch? Yeah, when I’m going down to Dublin I’ll text the lads to go lor a coffee or a pint. We’re all similar ages, we all love sport and we all have other projects going on, so there’s always chats to be had.
Have you called into Rob Kearney’s newest venture, beauty salon Oslo, for a facial yet?! I’ve been reading about this, Amy (Huberman) and Rob teaming up - it’s a great idea, something different. I must call in! I don’t know about the facial, maybe a massage or something! (laughs)
Last time VIP caught up with you, it was after the World Cup and you were recovering from a serious knee injury. How has the recovery been going? It’s been slow! I got back to play in April, but I knew things weren’t quite right, so T had to take the decision to step back. It was difficult, but it was necessary.
It must be so frustrating to be out of action for
so long. How badly has it affected you? Well, to miss the Six Nations, and decide not to go on the South Africa tour... it’s a killer. T feel like I’m good enough, but I’m not fit enough, which takes the choice
away from you. It’s hard to keep a smile on your face and go to the gym everyday. But I’ve played with so many guys my age who have had to retire and when I meet up with them diey just tell me; 'Hang in there, Tommy.’ With the clothes, the shoes and a few charities that I work with, diere’s loads to keep me occupied!
Pre-season starts this month for Ulster, are you feeling confident? Yes! I think if I have a good start, I’ll have a really posidve year and we’ll gel some much-needed medals.
Fingers crossed for you! Rugby and fashion lines aside - you’re looking very tanned, having just returned from a holiday with your lovely wife, Lucy Whitehouse. How was it? It was unbelievable, we went to San Francisco, LA and Hawaii for twjo w'eeks. We both needed an escape from normality and it certainly was diat! From sightseeing in Alcatraz and Beverly Hills to King on the beach, it was just what the doctor ordered!
While out there, it was your one-year anniversary' - did you do anything special? We actually went on a helicopter ride around the islands in Kauai, Hawaii and it was breathtaking. They filmed Jurassic Park and a few other movies there and w the scenery was just mind-boggling. There were ^
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waterfalls the size of the Empire State building and you were flying through it, which was scary', but amazing!
Sounds like bucket-list stuff. You’re used to flying with the pilot’s licence, but was Lucy not terrified!? It was her first time actually - and yes, she was pretty scared! She loved it though, it was one of her favourite-ever experiences.
What’s your first year been like as husband and wife? It’s been great, it’s flown by! The fact I haven’t been playing means I've been around a lot which is brilliant for us. When wre came back from the wedding and honeymoon, I had to go straight to the World Cup for 16 weeks! So to be back living with each other and Spending lime together is lovely.
Are you and Lucy the kind of couple that are yin & yang or ‘opposites attract’? I’d say we’d be similar in ways - we have similar \iews, but we’re different people in the sense that we like different tilings. We both get on really well; we sit and eat together every evening and have a chat and a bit of craic!
Tommy grew up five minutes away from Castle Leslie, where our shoot took place, and he has fond memories to reminisce on. (This page) Tommy *
. wears the same as before. (Center) Tommy wears XV Kings hoody 'Markham',
V-yvith S 'Clarington' t-shirt urtderrieath: (Opposite
How do you spend your date nights? Would you consider yourself to be romantic!? Ah, yeah! We go out for dinner a lot. I’m a big fan of eating out, although Luce probably does prefer staying in. It’s all about compromising! : / 1 ; page) Tommy wears XV-
v- - Kir.gs.polo shirt £ah S ' y V ' Ferpindi/.; -<rK-y'i'h You and Lucy are proud dog owners of Bonnie
- but is another addition to the household planned? Is starting a family on the agenda? Yes, a family is definitely on both of our minds, but I
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I
“I’m so glad Vl^came up to my home town
today, it’s a beautiful part of
the world”
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Lucy is from Wales, so how did you both come to aii agreement to set up in Belfast? Is the plan to stay there for good, or would you ever go across the pond? She really enjoys Belfast She has a good job as a nurse and has made a group of friends, so she seems well settled - it’s coming up to three years now. It's only across the pond for her to visit her parents, but everyone wants to live at home, don’t they? Whether we move to Wales or not, who knows!? I wouldn’t rule either out.
We’ve really enjoyed shooting with you today where you grew up - County Monaghan. You must have so many great memories in this
town... Ah, I’m so glad VIP came up to my hometown today, tills really is home to me. It’s a beautiful part of the world. Castle Leslie is just five minutes from where I grew up and I have lots of memories here. I used to come here on summer holidays for pony camp!
STYLING: Shannon McArdle fashion industry, they’re the kind of questions you expect to be asked. When I’m chatting to rugby journalists they’re not so keen to know if 1 have plans to start a family (laughs). Unless I have a boy who will grow up to be a rugby player!
And why should you be? You’re only married
one year! That’s exactly it. We said we’d enjoy married life. For example, for our holiday it was a long !ole flight, and to do diat with a child would be hard work! We want to do stuff while we can, because when wc make the decision to have kids, we’ll have to pare back on holidays and things like that. But yes, I’d be delighted to be a dad one day, it’s something we would both enjoy.
Shot on location at Castle Leslie, Glaslough, Co. Monaghan. Nestled on 1,000 acres of undulating Irish countryside,
dotted with ancient woodland and glittering lakes, Castle Leslie Estate is one of the last great Irish castle estates still in the hands of its founding family. Full of character and
personality, it's the ultimate Irish rural escape and boasts a variety of accommodation and activities to suit all tastes. For a list of special offers, visit castleleslie.com or call 047 88100.
How does Lucy cope with the media attention, does she like keeping a low profile too? She has no interest in it at all! She stays away from it entirely'!
Tommy Bowe's full collection for XV Kings, featuring 40 styles including polo shirts, t-shirts, dressy shirts, zip hoodies,
jackets, coats, gilets and more can be viewed on xvkings. com, or check out your local stockist. View
Tommy's extensive footwear range from Lloyd & Pryce on lloydandpryce.com.
What does she make of all the ladies going crazy over her hunky rugby star husband?! Listen, she just has a good laugh about it all! She never sees anything anyway, it’s her mum that sees stuff and shows her and then I get slagged about it!
When the press ask about your personal life, do you take it with a pinch of salt or find it overly intrusive? It’s part and parcel! Whenever you’re involved with the
54 www.vipmagazine.ie
Tommy is happily loved up with his wife of one year, Lucy Whitehouse, but he's in no rush to start a family. "We said we'd enjoy married life first," he tells VIP. (This page) Tommy wears XV Kings suit jacket Tigre' with 'Club Argentino' shirt. (Inset) Tommy wears the same as before.
