From his boutique clothing store in The Tannery, Benji, aka ‘The Jeans Whisperer’, dispenses expert advice and on-trend fashion. He tells Cityscape about a few of his favourite things and what’s coming in denim for AW20.

How did you get from London to running EnCompass in Christchurch? I left London to pursue a passion for the clothing industry as my ambitions were not being fulfilled. London is a fashion capital but it is saturated, with very little room for start-up businesses. Once I came to Christchurch I worked in retail for a while and could see an opening in the market for a more diverse offering. A good friend and now mentor planted the seed and suggested I should run my own store. After thinking about it carefully with my family I decided to persevere and EnCompass was created.

When did you get to be known as ‘The Jeans Whisperer’? On opening my store at The Tannery, The Press sent a reporter and my fitting skills were tested with three random customers. True to reputation I fitted all three customers in the first pair I gave them. That journalist came up with the name ‘The Jeans Whisperer’.

Is it an art or a science? Art. It cannot be taught, it is learnt by conscious experience, repetition and a passion for people.

What have been your favourite pair of jeans? Do you still have them? I have a few favourites for different reasons. Nudie Lean Dean for its clean, organic, dry fabrication and versatility. Scotch & Soda Ralston Slim for their repair/restoration work. G-Star RAW for their engineered, 3D military-inspired details. Yes, I still do have them.

What should people look for in a good pair of jeans? The right fit for their body shape is the most important thing.

What brands do you stock and why? Nudie, G-Star RAW, Scotch & Soda, Diesel, Edwin, Carhartt, Nobody, LTB and Maison to name a few. When I opened my store, the idea was to have a supreme collection of denim to satisfy the customers’ needs.

Do you have some tips for caring for your jeans? Don’t wash them too often. People tend to wash their jeans too much, which damages the cotton and fades the wash. My tip is to put them in a plastic bag in the freezer when they begin to smell.

You stock more than just jeans at EnCompass – what do you look for in choosing stock? Anything new in store? We have a substantial collection of apparel for both men and women including dresses, jackets, blazers, shorts, tops, shoes, shirts and tees, which all ties in with the perfect pair of jeans. The autumn stock has been landing rapidly so there is always something new.

You also stock hats – are you finding increasing demand there? Yes, there is always an interest in hats. We stock fedoras and cheese cutters, which are really on trend.

What do you see coming for denim in AW20? Not much has changed on the men’s side of denim, the same silhouettes across the board but some fabric changes and colour palettes. The women’s are seeing a wider leg and a small ankle flare.

You have a banging new website – what can you tell us about that? We have been focusing on face-to-face service since opening 6½ years ago. We have finally launched a website to service our long-distance customers. We are now also able to offer a more extensive range of sale items than we have room for in store.

Name two things you love about Christchurch and one thing you don’t. On a business level what I love is the opportunities Christchurch provides for small start-up businesses – allowing regular working-class people to take risks and see results. I also love being so close to the outdoors – beach, forest, plenty of outdoor space and very little traffic. I don’t love Christchurch winters.

Outside of work, what are you passionate about? English football.

What’s your favourite guilty pleasure? I can always find room in my collection for another pair of sneakers.

What are you binge-watching and listening to at the moment? Watching the Top Boy series again on Netflix, it’s super dope. At the moment I’m listening to an artist called Ocean Wisdom; the album is Big Talk.

What’s your favourite movie? Do the Right Thing, directed by Spike Lee.

We hear you like your gadgets – any favourites there? My drone and electrics scooter are my favourites at the moment.

What’s your go-to spot in Christchurch? The beach.

How do you relax? At home with family watching football.

Who’s your personal hero? My mum. She instilled core values, strength, determination and the ability to work harder than anyone else. Love.

If you could give the world one style/fashion tip, what would it be? Experiment with more colour, don’t follow trends, and wear what flatters your body shape.

What food will you never get tired of? The almond croissants from Bellbird Bakery – they’re the absolute bomb.

You’ve got friends coming from out of town. Where do you go and what would you do to show off the city in:

• two hours – Cassels and The Tannery
• a half-day – Little High and Riverside Market
• 24 hours – Lyttelton and all the quirky cafes, the bays around to Diamond Harbour and over the Summit Road.

Where do you go to:

• Wine and dine with friends: Amazonita
• Morning coffee: North Beach Coffee Shed
• Blow off some steam: On the beach on my electric scooter
• Get away from it all: Banks Peninsula

encompassclothing.co.nz