Travel accessories and clothing brand Gandys has opened its previously-flagged new store at 66 Neal Street in London’s Covent Garden. 

This location is intended to “showcase the best of their collections, inspired by travel, designed for longevity and crafted to be cherished for a lifetime of adventures”.

Items available include its sturdy waxed cotton bags and backpacks as well as weatherproof jackets, layering pieces and leather accessories. 

Importantly, the store also includes a “carefully curated” selection of third-party brands, including Nalgene Water Bottles, Cocoon (microfibre and eco travel towels), Klippan Blankets, Exclusive travel books, Kind Bag, Baggu, Sophos (dry bags), Shepherds of Sweden and Union of London, for a wider lifestyle-focused approach to the travel category.

Adding to this, inside the store, as well as the products, there’s “a cosy library-style area featuring travel-led books, ample seating, and [a] filtered water station provided for customers to refill and refuel”.

A mix of wood and metal materials have been re-used where possible. And there are vintage pieces in-store such as the the slatted teak bench that dates back to the 1970’s (an original production model from Knoll International), and the German 1960s tiered coat rack.

The brand has also chosen the opening to ramp up interest in the Gandys Foundation, “providing children in some of the poorest regions with the educational support needed to get a better start in life”. Store visitors will be able to learn more about this.

The first project has been built in Sri Lanka where Gandys founders and brothers Rob and Paul Forkan lost their parents in the Boxing Day tsunami 20 years ago. 

Some 10% of every sale by the brand goes to The Foundation and it has raised more than £600,000. It’s currently funding 10 major projects in eight countries.

The store opening also comes with new and special edition Gandys Campus graphic T-shirts, designed in collaboration with artists Dan Arab and Guy Train. From Ghana to Guatemala, there’s a T-shirt to celebrate the distinct cultures of each unique region where a Gandys campus is located.