History and the hunt: In conversation with Jack and Lewis at Salvage a

Almost a decade on from its original concept, Salvage and Sawdust is settling into a new home. Born out of equal parts chance and determination, the shop’s story began just two weeks after founder Jack left his houseboat for what he describes as “London by the sea.” Followed by a clear example of fortune favouring the brave, shortly afterwards Jack met a man giving up his shop, shook his hand, and called it home. That small but mighty space would house Salvage and Sawdust for the next seven and a half years.

Jack’s roots are firmly in carpentry, something that’s immediately apparent as your eyes meet the shop’s walls. While living on the boat, he spent his time making furniture and lamps from salvaged materials, alongside selling vintage clothing, most predominantly workwear. The name Salvage and Sawdust emerged naturally from that combination: intentional, honest, and reflective of the brand’s foundations.

The partnership with Lewis came together just as organically. On the very day the staff member Jack had working in the shop announced he was moving away, Lewis walked in looking for part-time work. Twenty minutes later, he had the job, soon to be followed up with a share of the business.

Now working together, the pair bring contrasting but complementary perspectives to sourcing. Jack gravitates towards classic American workwear, while Lewis leans slightly more towards sartorial pieces. Despite those differences, their shared instinct is simple: they look for things that feel right to them and hunt them down with a keen eye.

They’re drawn to pieces that are well worn, with a rich history, even those in need of repair because they have the skills to restore them. Classic silhouettes are key: timeless Type 1s and Type 3s, pieces that carry history without feeling overdone. Ultimately, they buy what they genuinely like and have likely read up extensively on it for pleasure prior purchasing, a philosophy that extends to how they sell. Their approach centres on classics, garments with history, and wear that feels lived-in but respected. If it brings them enjoyment, it earns a place on the rack, with confidence that it won’t stay there for long.

Do you ever buy anything you don’t personally like, but with a customer in mind? Or do you always buy for yourselves?

Lewis: We always buy what we like. That’s something Jack’s always done, and I do the same. People then come to us because they like the same stuff.

There are loads of vintage dealers — some do military, some British tailoring, some American, some super thrashed, some pristine. We just do what we like and service our “tribe,” as Jack says. We aim for classic silhouettes, not too worn, but with history. As long as we get enjoyment out of it, we’re willing to sell it.

On the left Lewis wears the Jacquard Vintage Vest, on the right Lewis wears the Jacquard Motif Knit and Big Pocket Shirt.

Do you focus on specific eras or origins when buying?

Lewis: For Pendleton we tend to steer towards 1950s and 1960s, we really aim for made-in-USA classic silhouettes but it varies for different pieces. With Levi’s, we buy USA-made. With French workwear, it’s French-made. We care about origin — it roots the clothing in history.

I love that aspect. The story behind why something was made, how it was designed, why one jacket’s blue and another’s black for different workers — it’s a rabbit hole. Pendleton is rare for how its retained its history and heritage, it appeals to the purist.

Is the history side a big part of the appeal for you?

Lewis: Massively. You start going down tangents — buttons, stitching, timeframes, military details. You’re researching buttons for fun, then suddenly you’re using them to date garments. That knowledge builds up, and then you spot something and think, “That’s from this period.” That’s exciting.

You mentioned buying in France — can you talk about that experience?

Lewis: There’s a huge antiques fair in a town in France — over three or four days, every street is full of dealers for miles. One guy sells French workwear, the next sells car parts, the next oil paintings, then glassware. Anything and everything and it’s a real joy to experience.

Lewis wears the Western Denim Work Shirt with the Selvedge Needlework Straight Denim Jean.

And the US is also on the cards?

Jack: One of my biggest dreams is to drive across America in a big old truck buying vintage. We’re saving now, and hopefully this year or next we’ll do it.

I don’t want vintage hookups or meetings — I want to drive, find little towns, closed-down shops, and discover things organically. That’s how I built the business here.

Have you spent much time in the US previously?

Jack: Never been. Weird, right? American cars, American clothes, American music, but I’ve never actually been, having tried many times something has always cropped up so it’s a long time in the making.

Is the hunt the best part of it for you?

Lewis: Absolutely. Selling is great, especially when someone finds something they’ve been searching for forever — but the hunt is the best part.

Finding something hidden, recognising it because you’ve put the time into research — that’s unbeatable. Even if we don’t need it, we want it. Sometimes it’s for reference, sometimes just to admire.

Do you ever lean into seasonality when you’re buying?

Lewis: We do approach it seasonally to an extent. Upstairs is more spring/summer — shirts, camp collars, rayon, tees.

But people buy timeless stuff all year round. Vintage buyers think in terms of longevity, not seasons. A French chore jacket works year-round — you just layer differently. We still try to merchandise like a contemporary shop and build outfits, but most of what we sell is seasonless, the appeal is timelessness, the good stuff lasts and is always worth investing in.