*Tom & Kieran in 2017 with the second batch of Clothing.*

In 2016, Tom and I; two friends from Norwich, UK, found indoor rock climbing for the first time. Tom had started climbing a few months prior to inviting me, however, it was easy to be hooked on going once you reached the top of the wall for the first time.

We loved the sport, however, didn’t like the clothes. The styles weren’t what we were used to and the materials; albeit hardwearing, weren’t as comfortable as our other technical sports garments.

As all friends do, we had a moment over coffee where we expressed to one another how much we both wanted to “have more adventures together”. This was the start of the Duco®. Well, it was actually the start of ‘Elát’, which was the pre-cursor to Duco®. The name didn’t stick and instead, we opted for the Duco; meaning ‘I Lead’ in Latin. With a £25 investment into the printing of two t-shirts bearing a logo selected from a scrap of notebook paper, Duco® was only ever going to be a brand for two friends with a desire to go on more adventures together.

As we planned our first trip overseas, we started to look for other items of clothing to bear the Duco® name. As we searched for garments to print our logo on, we explored; for the first time, making our own. This rabbit hole unearthed to us the dramatic and devastating environmental impact that fast fashion is having on the world. So our commitment to environmentally sustainable manufacturing began.

Our journey from 2016 to the present day has seen us take a simple idea printed on two t-shirts into a company that has put that same passion for adventure and environmental consciousness into everything we do.

In 2017, Tom and I went to the Climbing World Championships in Europe and for the first time watched Team GB and others compete for the top titles. In 2018, we did the same, joined by more of our friends, all sharing in our Duco® lifestyle or cafe culture and climbing. In 2019, we ventured out to those World Championships once again, and this time, we watched the GB Climbing Team take a podium, wearing our brand; Duco®.

Once we had delivered a technical kit for Britain’s best climbers for the Tokyo 2020 Qualifying events, we used the insight and learning to further develop our first bespoke technical range; The Carbon Range.

The Carbon Range is all black and the carbon emissions generated in manufacturing and shipping are offset through reforestation.

*Kieran & Tom in Arco, Italy at the World Champs*

The materials used for the Carbon Range were developed in Asia and made of 100% ocean plastic waste. The design and development of the garments was undertaken by ex-designers in athlete departments for the likes of Nike, Adidas and The North Face. It was sometimes hard to believe only 2 years ago, we were heat pressing two logo’s onto two t-shirts in Norwich.

Kieran & Tom at the 2019 Duco® GB Kit Launch

We wouldn’t be where we are today, however, without the support, knowledge, mentorship, investment and belief we’ve had from friends, family and those who we’ve serendipitously met and understand our vision for positively impacting the world. To all of those people, thank you.