2x2 RETRO

In 2000, when an empty lease came up two doors down from the Tinner’s Rabbit, my stepfather, Tinner's Rabbit gallery owner, Chris Benefield and my stepmother Liz Nuttall, Bookshop at the Tinner’s Rabbit owner, came upon the idea to open a dress shop for the mature woman. Ulverston was already somewhere that women came to shop for clothes at May Duff, Gina Cook and Jute. They each had their own distinctive style and so Chris and Liz sought to do the same for the Tinner’s Rabbit kind of woman.

Tinner’s Rabbit Style had to be something inspirational and out of the ordinary. Chris and Liz wanted to offer a new look for the women of Ulverston that included design with a WOW factor and where possible, natural fibres. Here is what some of our first outfits looked like, as modelled recently at our Arty Farty Fashion Party.

(all Fashion Show photos by Matt Benefield and Milton Hayworth)

The name Two by Two came because there were TWO people, running TWO shops, TWO doors down from TTR Central, however, they shared one idea when it came to branding and that was that quality was key. The Two by Two Collection would be made to stand the test of time and like tomorrows vintage could be passed on and worn 15 years later. 

In 2008 the credit crunch changed the way we bought and sold things forever. 
By now Liz and Chris had both retired ...

... and 2x2 was adopted by my mum, Janet and me! We hoped our customers would still want quality clothing, however in a new economic climate they might want to invest in clothes they could wear for every day occasions rather than formal ones.

The new 2x2 looked more and more at home than abroad for inspiration and found a lot of beautifully designed clothes here in Britain.
Increasingly the 2x2 collection includes Scottish tartan, Irish tweeds, traditional knitwear and seaside prints.
 The Tinner’s Woman can now be dressed in designs from John O Groats to lands End.

Recessions can be depressing but the last thing you want to do is depress yourself further by wearing dreary clothes. Everyday, people pop into 2x2, not just to shop, but for colour therapy. 
"In a recession you cannot allow life to turn beige"  Linda Grant

Today, 2x2 clothes are still a bit quirky ...

yet practical ...

and FUN



 Life is just obviously more hilarious in a Gibson & Birkbeck Shirt!

Todays 2x2 seeks to maintain the ethos that it set out with 15 years ago; 
to provide the women of Ulverston with clothes to wear that are a little out of the ordinary, that have STYLE with SMILE and are made to last. 
Our collection of outstanding everyday wear is made for your every day adventures.

Come and celebrate 15 years of 2x2 with us this Saturday!