TENBURY is the home for a new fashion business that is already taking on some of the biggest names in style.

And one of the town’s shops, Marilyn’s, is the first official stockist of the the new fashion brand – Rupert & Buckley.

What makes the story even more striking is that the firm was set up by a 23-year-old entrepreneur who abandoned training to be a barrister for the retail trade.

James Buckley-Thorp, founded clothing company Rupert & Buckley just over a year ago.

“I formed this idea back in my final year at University where I was reading law at The University of Kent in Canterbury,” said James.

“There is a growing demand for British heritage style clothing from the popular brands such as Jack Wills, Joules, Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister and Rampant Sporting.

“My idea for Rupert & Buckley was to make sure our recommended retail price was lower than the competition as well as being ethically sourced and produced.”

Since setting up in February 2011 the business has grown and has recently moved to Tenbury.

“Despite the title of the brand, it is just me,” added James.

“There is no secondary partner to this brand.

Buckley is my family name, and Rupert is a boy’s name that I would like to call my first boy,”

he joked.

“I've been described as an eccentric, workaholic who threw in the desire to become a family law barrister and I turned down my position to BPP London Bar School to pursue Rupert and Buckley.

“I emptied all my savings accounts and spent all the money put aside for law school into the business and finding an investor.

“In the summer of 2012 I relocated from Canterbury to Tenbury Wells where my godparents have helped me greatly with space, as every collection grows in size.

“The demand for extra space increases and I currently now fill one whole barn that used to house a tractor and one of their out-houses as a stockroom and dispatch hub, employing my godmother and whoever else needed to help her complete the orders.”

“I employ designers who are usually British design students.”

The clothes are then made at factories, selected by James, in Yorkshire and Turkey and sell online in the UK and across Europe The business currently employs 22 people on a full or part time basis, with three of those based in Tenbury.