G-You October Edition 2015

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Hello readers,

Welcome to our October edi-tion of G-You! This month we’ve launched our brand new website, www.gyou.co.uk, and it’s packed with articles, photos and stories from campus and further afield. This website will give us a bigger and better platform for publish-ing, so now is the perfect time to get involved. If you’re interested in getting involved with contribut-ing articles, photos, graphics or ideas to G-You, meetings every Monday at 5.30pm in the Drawing Room, or email me for more info!

Read on for news on Glasgow’s World of Film Festival, refugee crisis analysis, World Food Day recipes and even a little Taylor for everyone. We’re good to you.

Lucy KeownEditor-in-Chief

Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting their website at www.fca.org.uk/register. Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited, Company No. 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.

**Price is based on a student living on campus, insuring a £500 laptop (excluding Apple and Sony laptops) and an iPhone 5s. We work exclusively with Premium Credit Limited (PCL) who arrange finance for monthly payments. Credit is subject to status and is not guaranteed.

* If your item is lost, stolen or unrepairable we’ll replace it within 24 hours – 1 working day of your claim being approved.

Protect your laptop and phone with the No.1 student insurance provider.Sophie, Nottingham University Insured a £500 laptop plus an iPhone 5s for just £10.49** a month

Our student insurance cover includes:

• theft, loss, accidental and liquid damage• anywhere in the UK and up to 30 days worldwide• monthly payment option at no extra cost**• 24 hour* laptop and phone replacement

Build your cover at endsleigh.co.uk/university or search Endsleigh Student Insurance

24 HOUR*REPLACEMENT

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3C o n t e n t s

G - Yo u | O c t o b e r E d i t i o n 2 0 1 5

4&5 From the board

6&7 News - a dangerous woman?

8&9 lifestyle - Oktoberfest comes to the west end & world food day recipes

10&11 societies spotlight - macmillan

12&13 REVIEW - A Taylor Swift For every occasion

14&15 culture - world of film festival

16&17 Column - Glasgow’s food scene made me fall in love

18&19 Entrepreneur Focus - Barely dressed

CONTRIBUTORS: Lottie van Grieken, Anna Ireland, Kate Whitaker, Hannah Burgess, Terence Aquachmar, Amy McShane, Tresca Mallon, Lucy Keown, Fergus Greig, Rachel Bean, Matthew Botez,Taggy Elliot, Annika Wagener

Editorial Team: Culture Editor - Anna IrelandNews Editor - Hannah BurgessColumn Editor - Amy McShaneLifestyle Editor - Kate WhitakerCover and Graphics Edi-tor - Rachel BeanWebsite Editor - Terence AqachmarPhotography Editor - Lot-tie van Grieken

If you’d like to contribute in any way, or get in touch, please email: [email protected], or check us out below;

Facebook - /GYoumagazine Twitter - @g_youmagazine

Instagram - @gyoumagazine Website - www.gyou.co.uk

CONTENTS

IT IS HERE!

Finally after years of waiting and wondering, Hive is back!I’m sure you are all as excited as me for the return of Glasgow University’s favourite club but if you arrived too late to experi-ence the old Hive let me clue you in.

Picture your perfect night out. Have you got it? Ok. I’m guess-ing it involves cheap drinks, amazing tunes and all your mates, in the same place, hav-ing the best time? Well that was Hive in a nutshell! Not to men-tion the fact it was super close so no expensive taxi fares!

The shiny new building next to us at 32 University Avenue promises to be even bigger and way better! With four all new bars you’ll be spoilt for choice in how to spend your night. G12 will be a mixture of a café and cocktail bar providing Starbucks during the day and by night a unique cocktail list as well as premium spirits. Base has the perfect mood lighting and comfiest booths for a good relaxing chat with friends, with the potential to become a kara-oke space later in the night. The Well is our industrial space with purpose built AV systems for live music and performances. It will also be the new home of Open

Mic so you’ll have plenty of op-portunities to get acquainted.

Finally we reach the Hive. This cavernous dance floor will be the focus of every great night you will have for the rest of your time at Glasgow. The sound sys-tem is rated as one of the top in the world for sound quality and has been used by the likes of Da-vid Guetta, and in the infamous Berghain in Berlin. Our twelve metre long bar will ensure that you don’t have any long waits for drinks and our stunning visual displays will keep you en-tertained anyway. Last but not least there will be a return for everybody’s favourite podium!

Hive will return with a bang and I hope you’re all as excited as me! I’m sure I’ll see you all there on one of many Hive Thursdays!

While that’s all going on in the new building, don’t forget that our committees will still be bringing you high quality weekly events. On Mondays our lovely Libraries Committee host an open meeting at 5:30pm for

those looking to contribute to G-You magazine and Games Comm hosts the Beer Bar quiz at 8pm where you can win a keg! Debates Committee will teach you how to win any argument on Tuesdays at 6pm and Enter-tainments Committee welcomes you all down on Fridays at 9pm for Open Mic to end the week in style.

The Union also acts as a Services hub for students on campus. Our Drawing Room cafe provides a chilled environment for you to catch up with friends while the Kitchen will keep you fuelled for a hard day of lectures and semi-nars. Our newly renovated Elliot Library is open only for private study, so nothing can break that essay-writing rhythm. We’ve also refurbished the Billiards Hall to make it much lighter and more open. It also will now be open from 11am-11pm weekdays and 12pm-late on weekends serving draught pints of Tennents!

As you can tell the Union has gone through a whole host of changes over the summer and all of them are to improve it for you all! Please come down and experience everything we have to offer, I’m confident that we have something for everyone on at the GUU!

“With four all new bars you’ll be spoilt for choice in how to spend your night”

4 Fr o m t h e B o a r d


5Fr o m t h e B o a r d


FROM THE BOARD FERGUS GREIG

6 N e w s


The Sun newspaper once claimed Shami Chakrabarti was the most dangerous woman in Britain, but I don’t think dangerous is the word. A name which will be familiar to many, some will have seen her at her best taking on some of the coun-try’s leading politicians on ques-tion time and more than holding her own. She’s at the forefront of the human rights movement and has been for a number of years, first joining Liberty the day before the attacks on the twin towers which heralded the much broad-casted ‘war on terror’ a concept she herself terms Orwellian. What after all can end a war against an abstract noun?

As director of Liberty, she is justi-fiably proud of its growth over the 81 years it has been campaigning for the rights of individuals world-wide. Since that first meeting of the group in the crypt of St Martin in the Fields Church in central London, one would presume that the issues which this NGO face

are vastly different. After all, the world is a very different place now - isn’t it? As Ms Chakrabarti noted, there was no Internet, they hadn’t discovered DNA, never mind the fact that it is possible to steal someone else’s. This was a dif-ferent world. The global economy was in tatters with many families unsure of where the money for their next meal would come from. Refugees were escaping Eastern Europe and heading west. Sound familiar? The very same newspa-pers which serve us today reported the ‘swarm’ of people trying des-perately to seek not simply a better life but a life where the don’t live in fear on a daily basis. This is all too familiar!

I went into this lecture thinking that it would be enlightening – it was. I went in thinking it would be infuriat-ing – it was. I also went in thinking it could become quite upsetting as Ms Chakrabarti highlighted man’s inhumanity to man. Upsetting it certainly wasn’t. Shami is not

only gifted with intellect, humanity and passion but also with a great sense of humour which one may think would be inappropriate in this setting but in many ways made her point come across in a way which sank far deeper and made it more memorable.

It is very easy to forget that your birth nationality is a lottery. Human rights are a wonderful thing when you have them. Ms Chakrabarti discussed at length the current Conservative proposals to scrap the Human Rights Act and in the process praised the actions of Nicola Sturgeon, a Scottish Nationalist promising Brits that she would do all in her power to uphold the Human Rights Act as turning our back on it would “dimin-ish the UK’s reputation overseas, damage relations with devolved governments, and impact on the welfare of people within the UK.” Referring to the act as a ‘battered suitcase’ with treasured contents but a tired outside, it is clear that

A DANGEROUS WOMAN? HANNAH BURGESS

7N e w s


Chakrabarti is deeply committed to the preservation and extension of human rights both domestically and internationally. She confessed that ‘you don’t do my job if you’re not an optimist’. I’m left pondering why it is these two women, who have spoken out to defend the very act which sees many Brits able to live without even a thought to breaches of rights for days, weeks even months at a time, are consid-ered ‘dangerous’.

Refugees are being referred to in the national press like a disease; a plague spreading across Europe, not in an attempt to bring harm or misfortune to another, but to be safe. I don’t know about you but I can honestly say that not once have I woken up fearing for my life. I can’t even comprehend how this must feel. So why instead of trying to help these people have

we pulled up the drawbridge and retreated to our cosy homes away from this ‘threat’? Ms Chakrabati herself questions if we now really live in a world where we are con-sidered foreigners in every corner of the globe but our own instead of being considered as simply human beings no matter where we go. It takes the heartbreaking image of a drowned toddler washed up like a piece of driftwood on a beach to prompt David Cameron to say that Britain will help, but only a certain number decided by a civil servant somewhere in Whitehall, despite refugees being welcomed in marches all over the country.

In the duration of Shami’s address how many refugees were making the perilous trip across the Mediterranean? It’s not a far away ocean, where many of us will have spent a happy summer

holiday splashing around. How many young black men will be ‘randomly’ stopped and searched on the streets of London? How many young girls are forced into arranged marriages before they are deemed old enough learn to drive in the UK? I am ashamed to say these were questions which I only asked myself as I left two hours later. Ms Chakrabarti taught me a very important lesson last week, one which has already changed my way of thinking and reacting to situations. ‘Dissent is not disloyalty’ she said. Question, don’t just blindly agree. The future of human rights lies in the hands of humans, so we should be doing all we can to uphold them.

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”- Benjamin Franklin

Crosslands on Great Western Road re-opened at the beginning of this month with a new name, ‘So, What Comes Next?’ Following a £40,000 investment, the venue that became well-known in Glasgow for its infa-mous role in the film Trainspotting, has come back with an interesting new concept.

The premise is that each month a new theme will take over the bar, kicking off with an Oktoberfest-in-spired menu and events. In Novem-ber, the former church will change course and offer 30 days of wine and cheese, before being trans-formed into a Christmas market for the duration of December, serving the likes of mulled wine, chestnuts and hot cider.

Being an avid fan of all things Okto-berfest, I was super excited to see

what the bar’s take on it would be. I was pleased to find that the inte-rior of the building hasn’t changed too much, including the famous balcony from Trainspotting where Begbie throws a pint glass over his shoulder and a bar brawl ensues. Additionally, as part of the renova-tion, a new winter garden has been installed; with five heated booths, it will no doubt be very popular dur-ing Glasgow’s chilly winters.

In honour of its Oktoberfest cel-ebrations, ‘So, What Comes Next?’ offered a wide range of beer includ-ing two-pint steins of West; there was also an extensive, reasonably-priced cocktail menu for those who aren’t such big fans of beer. A two-oint stein is pretty huge. The food menu was inspired by traditional German meals, including currywurst, schnitzel and sauer-kraut. Having ordered the schnitzel on a pretzel bun with beetroot chutney, fennel slaw and chicken

salt fries, I was happily surprised by the quality of the food, and for just over £6 it was great value for money. We sat in the beer garden and the atmosphere was pleasant; the bar has always been popular with the locals and judging by how busy it was, this hasn’t changed. It still had the characteristics of Crosslands whilst also emphasising the essence of Oktoberfest, which I think is class.

Following this experience, I cannot wait to see how ‘So, What Comes Next?’ adapts itself from month to month. In the meantime, mehr bier, bitte!

8 L i f e s t y l e


OKTOBERFEST HITS THE WEST END TAGGY ELLIOT

9L i f e s t y l e


Ingredients

For the dough-4 large eggs-250g caster sugar-250g plain flour-1tsp baking powder-1 packet of vanilla sugar

For the crumble-250g butter-250g caster sugar-400g plain flour-1 packet of vanilla sugar

To serve-whipped cream

Method

-Mix all of the ingredients for the dough together until it resem-bles the batter of a sponge cake.

-Pour the mixture into a greased cake pan.

-Rub the ingredients for the crumble together until they resemble clumps of bread-crumbs. Sprinkle over the dough mixture.

-Bake at 175 degrees Celsius for 15-20 minutes.

-Serve with whipped cream

Additionally, fruits such as apples, plums and pears can be added to the cake. It is quick and easy to make and is very popular with children!Join the facebook group ‘Glasgow University German Society’ for German themed events and more!

W O R L D F O O D D AY - S T R E U S E L K U C H E N R E C I P E ANNIKA WAGENER

10 S o c i e t i e s S p o t l i g h t


MACMILLAN TRESCA MALLON

11S o c i e t i e s S p o t l i g h t


You’ve seen them; carrying buckets, selling glowsticks and tattoos, giving out facepaint, at almost every GUU event. Specks of luminous green in a sea of dancing students and spilling drinks, but who are the Macmillan Society?

The Macmillan Society at Glasgow University is a relatively new, student run society which raises awareness and funds for Macmillan Cancer Support through various fundraising activities and socials. Macmillan Cancer Support gives support to those who have been given a cancer diagnosis, from help with money worries to an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on. Their slogan; ‘No one should face cancer alone’.

The Society was founded on the 21st of October 2013 by student Katie Bruce in the hope that stu-dents would like to get involved with raising awareness, funds and support for Macmillan Cancer Support in their effort to support people affected by cancer. In a case study about the society Bruce said of her experience in the society; “No matter what your interests or passions are there is bound to be something for you if you want to volunteer for Macmillan.” She also spoke of the bond that is formed between those involved in the society and that “as soon as you start volunteering for Macmillan you will feel part of that team.” She also stressed the ben-eficial effect that charity work has on your future career, as evidence of volunteering work on your CV shows a potential employer you are a “well rounded person”.In their first year the Macmillan Society at Glasgow University raised £5870.00 through events such as collections at a Sarah Millican show and bake sales in

the GUU. In its 2nd year it raised £2,360.00. Already this year the society has raised £1,300.00 and the goal is to go above and beyond the total of previous years by utilis-ing the ever growing volunteer base the flourishing society has amassed. This year, the society will be holding a fundraising event each month such as the return of the very popular Harry Potter Quiz in January and a Ceilidh with the Marrow Society in February. There will also be chances for volunteers to take part in bucket collections and bake sales throughout the year.

I wondered what prompted the members of the Macmillan Society at Glasgow to join the Society. Whether it was personal con-nection to the care given by the Macmillan Cancer Support, the social aspect of the society, to make their CV more desirable to possible employers upon grad-uation or a combination of the three. I asked new member, 2nd year psychology student, Fiona Waters what prompted her to join the society this year; “Now that I’m in 2nd year I wanted to get

involved in more societies and I felt the Macmillan Society was very worthwhile. I also thought it would be a great way to meet some nice people outside of my course.” The benefits of the society have also been commended by longer-standing members such as 2nd year Medic Maria Hagan, who is this year’s Sponsorship Secretary on the committee. When asked what she gets from volunteering for Macmillan Cancer Support she said, “It’s a great opportu-nity to meet lots of new and inter-esting people, while at the same time being able to make a posi-tive difference in the lives of people who are fighting cancer. It’s very rewarding.”

The society communicates with its members about upcoming events and fundraising opportunities through social media -

Facebook: MacMillan at the University of GlasgowEmail: [email protected]: MacmillanGUInstagram: macmillanglasgowuni

12 R e v i e w


TAYLOR SWIFT FOR EVERY OCCASION ANNA IRELAND

13R e v i e w


Undoubtedly, Taylor Swift has a song for every potential situation you could find yourself in. Given the emotive nature of some of her tracks, no artist seems more apt for the trials and tribulations of the rollercoaster that is university life. Not a fan? For even the most die-hard Swift-haters, I can guarantee there will be something for you. Think of us as your musical doctor, if you will. Your ears (and heart) will thank us.

Shocking essay grade?

We recommend: Shake it Off

Thought your essay was a slice of brilliance but the tutor didn’t quite agree? No matter. According to Tay, shake your booty like nobody’s watching, and all criticism will cease to exist. As a girl that knows a thing or two about criticism, I’m willing to take her advice. Have no shame - there’s absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, poor essay grade or not.

Buried deep in the library, nos-talgic over happier, more care-free times?

We recommend: Back to December

This one is a real tear jerker, not to be listened to during the course of any library session occurring between the hours of 9am – 10pm; save this one for the wee hours, when only the cleaners can hear your muffled sobs. If it doesn’t promote weeping, it should at least help find a vent for those nostal-gic emotions. Don’t worry, like this song, it too shall pass.

Severe hatred for the one person

in your tutorial who knows everything?

We recommend: Mean

They’re not really mean, and you know they’re not really mean, but they tread a fine line. Tay really hits the nail on the head with this one, with her classic style of offen-sive, obnoxious lyrics layered with sass (cough cough): “You’re a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life and mean. And mean.” Keep repeat-ing it to yourself in your head when they’re causing you a particularly painful headache for maximum effect.

Hungover: Beer fear? Shakes? All round queasiness?

We recommend: Begin Again/Safe and Sound

The promise of a fresh start and comforting words are all you want when you are feeling fragile. Here we have two that promise you that it will be okay, and tomorrow is a new day. When you just really, really need a hug, we have Swifty here to do the trick. A hug in a song eh, what could be better?

Scorned by a lover?

We recommend: I Knew You Were Trouble

Not to be stereotypical (and as a firm lover of T-Swift I refuse to mock), but she has written her fair share of ‘f*** you’ songs, which we can prescribe as the perfect anec-dote to the break up of any amorous relationship. Found them swiping right on Tinder whilst you’re on a romantic date? Whack this on full volume when you get home and

you’ll be filled with enough confi-dence to confirm that you. Don’t. Need. Them. Just tell them Taylor made you do it.

Hot gal/guy in your History lecture?

We recommend: Blank Space

No one does passive-aggressive quite like Swift, and playing it cool could be your safest bet to secure everlasting romance. Avoid playing on repeat for fear it could cause you to adopt a particularly manip-ulative, calculating alter ego - just don’t try and smash their car. Other than that, this song gets it pretty spot on.

If it’s a particularly bad case….

Break Glass for Emergency Swift:

We recommend: You Belong with Me.

It will never not be good.

Shockingly useful, I know.You’re welcome.

14 C u l t u r e


In keeping with the theme of this month’s issue, the World of Film International Festival returned to Glasgow for its second year, pro-moting the work of young artists both in Scotland and globally. Despite it’s far reaching scope, it aims to be community driven, screening not only feature-length and short films, but theatre perfor-mances, workshops and discus-sion sessions.

Running this year from 1 – 4 Oct at Glasgow’s CCA, we caught up with Festival Director, Martin Petrov, to discuss the origins of the festival, it’s central concerns and inspiring today’s young filmmakers.

Hi Martin. How did the festival come about, and how did your involvement with it begin?

I was invited to organise the first edition of the festival, which was held at the University of Glasgow’s Gilmorehill Centre and carried the name “Commonwealth Film & Theatre Festival Glasgow” last

July as part of the Games celebra-tions in the city. After that, the idea of keeping the festival but making it accessible and open to the wide public with a more focused charac-ter led to creating WoFF.

What is your selection process for the films?

We receive submissions via an online platform where filmmakers from all over the world can submit their films to festivals. Then a team of programmers watches all the films and forms the programme in accordance to the festival’s main sections and focus.

How do you reach out to inter-national artists - I noticed that you are partnered with MIAFF (Montreal International Animation Film Festival), is this an important part of it?

I am coordinating the Montreal International Animation Film Festival since last year, so the idea of adding some animation

WoFF’s programme was some-thing I wanted from the beginning. What surprised me, though, is the fact that the audience responded to it warmly, which makes me think that we should probably work a bit more with animation projects for the future editions of the festival.

This year there was a focus on first feature directors and female filmmakers - is showcasing and putting a spotlight on these kinds of voices something that’s important to you/the festival?

These are the two main section of the festival itself, the core of it. They might take slight alterations in the future but will remain in more or less the same form and shape.

With the incorporation of theatre into the programme, what inspired you to open up the festival to artists other than filmmakers?

It is interesting to promote local talent and film is closely related

WORLD OF FILM FESTIVAL ANNA IRELAND

15C u l t u r e


to theatre. We wanted to get on board performers and young talent from the UK to promote their work, benefit from the networking oppor-tunities and create an interac-tion between the film and theatre scenes in Scotland. It is also, I guess, the right time to bring theatre back in the spotlight, after the closure of The Arches, which used to be the largest hub for theatre performances in the city. There are so many new talents in the city and we need to give them stage to work, create and broaden their vision.

You hold discussions as well as performances – is this focus on discussion and community an important part of your work?

Our main focus is exactly to engage as many local communities and audiences as possible and bring then in touch with international independent cinema, arts and local talent. We aim to design our pro-gramme in a way that is accessi-ble and with interest not only to to those with particular interest in the art of cinema and theatre but also to the general public, who can for the first time have access

to films from independent filmmak-ers that are not receiving general distribution.

It’s interesting that you show a combination of short and more feature length films - do you think one has benefits over the other?

Not really. Many believe that feature films can show greater develop-ment because of their length, which is not true as a 10 minute short film can equally present a very insight-ful and inspired storyline.

Is there a particularly stand out film this year for you in terms of being emotional and/or thought provoking?

The entire programme was full of interesting and inspirational films from every corner of the world. I would say that the multi-diverse character of the films, specially the short film compilations, had some-thing fro everyone. It was a great pleasure to have all the attending filmmakers approaching me every day to mention again and again how beautiful and creatively intelli-gent all the programmes are. Many

of them got inspiration for their future projects and got involved in issues and situations presented in the films that are much different or far from the equivalent in their home countries.

What sorts of issues (if any) do you find young people are making films about the most? Have you noticed a change in this in the last 2 years?

I think most of the younger film-makers choose to make films for coming of age characters, for people struggling with various contemporary problematics (drug addictions, family disorders, unem-ployment, immigration) but also with very hot topics such as war, gay rights and environment. This depends a lot on the country they reside or work in, combined with a potential personal connection to the topic. Just because most young filmmakers are anticomformists and are not afraid to express them-selves openly, they deal with things closer to their heart and nature.

To find out more about the pro-gramme please visit www.woff.org.uk.

16 C o l u m n


Last year, my first year as a full time citizen of Glasgow, I didn’t really ‘get’ this city. Nineteen years of fields, cattle grids and small town gossip left me obsessed and desperate to vanish into the urban cloud of Glasgow; that messy, don’t give a shit, post industrial bruised city with everything to offer and nothing to apologise for. As soon as I moved, I ogled over the traffic, the high rises, and the

crowds but felt somewhat iso-lated in the hushed suburbs of the West End. I had few connections to my surroundings other than uni-versity, my flat and a few friends who had already settled in the city. I had no real reason to be in love: we didn’t have that much in common, and it was causing prob-lems. In my spare time, I stuck to generic eating and drinking insti-tutions like ‘Wagamama’ and

‘Vodka Revolution’ which required little risk of disappointment. If only I had known that Glasgow’s own ‘Chaophraya’ and ‘Vodka Wodka’ were infinitely better improvements to the chain clones I was throwing my precious SAAS at. It was like Glasgow was offering to cook me a fabulous dinner and I was opting for a ready meal instead, leaving no opportunity for us to get to know each other.

GLASGOW’S FOOD SCENE MADE ME FALL IN LOVE AMY MCSHANE

17C o l u m n


Glasgow and I took a break over the summer, and within a few months I realised there were actu-ally feelings between us. This time, I had to put the work in if I wanted to experience true love. I secured myself a job at GWR’s ‘Cail Bruich’ and began spending my tips in local, independent establishments. Having had a good five years of experience in the Scottish fine dining industry with event caterer Wilde Thyme, I didn’t feel nervous about joining CB (three AA rosette holder and winner of ‘Best Scottish Restaurant’ at the 2014 Scottish Entertainment Awards). However, I was quite unprepared for the level of innovation and dedication I was to witness. Most produce is local, ingredients are unusual and of wonderful quality and customers always leave completely besotted with what the have just consumed.

It has come to my attention, as I have made my way round similar haunts of the West End that Cail Bruich is not isolated in its great-ness. It has become clear to me that the food I am eating is the result of a sort of revolution occurring in Glasgow. Burgers have captured St Vincent Street in the centre and turned it into some sort of Mecca,

with ‘Bread Meats Bread’ leading the way. The holes in Finnieston high street are quickly filling up with hipster seafood eateries such as ‘Crabshakk’ and ‘The Finnieston’, along with Scottish tapas in ‘The Ox and Finch’ and ‘The Gannet’, and the West End exceeds expec-tations of fine dining with the likes of ‘Tiffney’s Steakhouse’ (the holy grail number one on TripAdvisor), ‘Stravaigin’ and the eternally popular ‘Ubiquitous Chip’ on Ashton Lane. This year, like some sort of confirmation by the city of this movement, food events like SWG3’s ‘Let’s Eat’ a street food festival with Glasgow’s big inde-pendent names offering tastes of their dishes and even talk of a permanent street food market in the near future, make it clear that this revolution is something quite significant. Having spent a lot of time in London in the last two years (long distance relationship yes, still going), I can confirm that Glasgow is seriously ahead of its game in terms of cuisine. Whilst London is littered with Michelin Stars and every sort of food imag-inable, there is little personality available to the newcomer. Never mind barely being able to see past the Pizza Expresses and Ask

Italians, to find something inde-pendent and accessible to those without a City salary is a feat I am yet to accomplish. There is an air of falsity and institutional-ism around the dining scene and, for this reason, Glasgow has the upper hand.

Personification aside, I am now falling in love with Glasgow in a way that is real and meaning-ful. I have met chefs, managers, waiting staff and diners who are all lost deep inside the veins of this city; led there by their infatu-ation with good food and drink. I feel connected to areas of the city I would not have previously con-sidered visiting (next meal the Southside), and I am now a part of a community with whom I share interests other than Glasgow uni-versity and vodka. Should you ever feel isolated in this buzzing metropolis, as it is easy to do so, go for sweet potato fries and a milkshake at ‘BRGR’, or a mojito Vodka Wodka, or maybe even a six course tasting menu at Cail Bruich if it’s double SAAS day. Allow food to be an occasion, not just a neces-sity, and Glasgow will make the occassion wonderful.

18 E n t r e p r e n e u r Fo c u s


‘Barely Dressed’ is an inde-pendent Scottish clothing brand founded in May 2015 by young entrepreneurs Julius Grieve (Law student, Glasgow University) and Liam Hutcheon (Mechanical Engineering student, Strathclyde University).

Jules and Liam in their stall at ‘London Edge’ trade show in September.

Firstly, how would you describe each other in 3 words?

Ballsy, wannabe-hipster and often-naked (Jules)

Smart, hairy and cute (Liam)

How did you come up with the initial idea for the company and the name?

Initially the idea came from wanting to earn money for going travelling. We were keen to run our own busi-ness and to be honest neither of us had a particular skill we could use and we had limited funds. We thought starting with t-shirts would be the best way. We got a local artist to do the designs and it’s grown from there. Because of the Scottish theme we thought of tra-ditional Scottish dress (kilts) and seeing as being a true Scotsman involves not wearing anything underneath it, you’re ‘Barely Dressed’. We just thought it was a good play on words.

How did you get your initial break to start the business? Were you given any kind of financial support or advice?

No, everything has been out of our own pockets, and we haven’t received any loans or other finan-cial support for the business so far.

We notice that 10% of your profits go to NSPCC, how did you choose this charity and are there any other charities which you would like to collaborate with in the future?

We knew we wanted some of our money to go to a charity and tried to choose and area which we felt was slightly under represented. We were looking at our own age group and vulnerable young people and thought that NSPCC was a good start due to their work with young people suffering from neglect and anguish. We have been in contact with ‘Young Minds’ and are hoping to work with them in the near future too.

Where do you see your company in the next 5 years and how are you intending to expand?

Hopefully still running! Haha. We have recently been expand-ing our range of products to hats, hoodies and jackets. This current year we’re applying to work in fes-tivals, trade shows, tourist shops and various retail outlets. Last year

we had a stall at Aboyne Highland Show and at ‘London Edge’ and we believe the product sells a lot better when you can actually see it, as you get a better feel for the product. We’re also looking to have increased social media presence and get involved in more online platforms.

What has been your biggest achievement with the company so far?

Getting into ‘Entrepreneurial Spark’ which is a free business accelera-tor programme. It’s a competitive process with about a 5:1 ratio of getting into the programme. We had to go through an application and interview process and pitch our business to get in so it’s a big achievement. Being involved pro-vides us with mentoring from suc-cessful businessmen, office space and lots of training and skills to improve as individuals as as part of the business. We’ve had a lot of meetings as a result and are expected to be in the office at least twice a week.

Is there a particular philosophy that inspires you?

Ethics of t-shirts and clothing is key. They’re sourced from a sus-tainable and ethical place and made in Scotland. We believe that business should run for society, and should benefit everyone not just yourself. It is not with a selfish

LOTTIE VAN GRIEKEN

E n t r e p r e n e u r Fo c u s 19


pursuit, hence our donations to

charity.

Do you feel put off by the number of small clothing com-panies around at the moment?

No, competition is good. It drives on businesses and encourages you to grow and expand. It helps you find your unique aspects and new ways of selling. We like being a small and independent business as it gives us much more control over procedures and is much more customer friendly.

If you were ‘Barely Dressed’, what one item of clothing would you wear?

Liam – ‘a sock’

Jules – ‘my glasses’

What’s your party trick?

Liam – ‘cutting mean shapes’

Jules – ‘opening a bottle with my teeth’

H o w w o u l d you describe G l a s g o w ’ s style?

It’s pretty bohe-mian, very mixed and varied.

I f you were s h o w c a s -ing at London Fashion week, w h a t w o u l d your models be wearing?

U m m , o u r clothes? Probably fea tur ing our graphic tees,

particularly the stag and heather watercolour t-shirts.

One of your t-shirt captions is ‘Thistle Only End Badly’. What’s your worst end to a night out story?

Liam – Probably the time I woke up in a stable, clueless about where I was, topless with my phone lost, a broken wrist and a couple of horses for company.

Jules – After competitively drink-ing, went looking for a party with my mate and tried to find a partic-ular girl, but instead passed out on her back garden decking until her Mum found me the next morning.

Cats or dogs? Cats (Liam), Dogs (Jules)

Books or films? Films

Hoes or bros? Bros

Currently the Barely Dressed designs are drawn by a local Glasgow tattoo artist. As the company expand they are looking for other artists and new designs. To get involved contact Liam and Jules via the details below.

[email protected]

Check out the website at www.barelydressedclothing.co.uk to see the full range of products and some very ‘pun-ny’ descriptions.

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G-You October Edition 2015