Nigel Hunt created San Portablo as a way of combating negative perceptions of the area.
As an aspirational brand, San Portablo, has risen over the last seven and a half years, from humble beginnings at Nigel’s home in Aberafan through to having a dedicated shop in Aberafan Shopping Centre. Having been let go from the steelworks in 2016 he needed a new income and wanted to combine his passion for Port Talbot and fashion and design. From there San Portablo was born.
It’s hard to walk down any street in Port Talbot or even South Wales without seeing San Portablo t-shirts, hats and hoodies being proudly worn by people of all ages.
In Nigel’s words:
“People have always put down Port Talbot and picked out its problems and weaknesses but deep down there’s a huge sense of community and pride in our town that I wanted to bring out through San Portablo.
“Both myself and my business partner, Michael Locke, couldn’t have imagined the success we would be enjoying now when we started this seven and a half years ago. We’ve worked hard and made many sacrifices, but we’ve been embraced by the people of Port Talbot.
“Collaboration has been so important for us. Port Talbot is a hugely creative place. The talent of local artists and musicians is incredible and there’s a real community building in the creative industries here. We’ve had the pleasure of working with some inspiring local artists, but we’ve also tried to build as many connections as we can as we know that that’s the key to everyone’s success. We can’t do it all on our own but together we’re unstoppable.
“San Portablo has given people a local alternative to wearing the same old brands as everyone else. We’re as functional and comfortable as big brands but we’ve got our own personality and uniqueness that people are looking for. We love showing where our clothing has been worn on our social media channels. It’s been on every continent and at some really high-profile places – what a great way to shout about where you’re from!”
“Port Talbot is becoming known as a place for creativity. With In It Together Festival and Shunkfest we’ve got two major music events that put us on the map and showcase local talent. Music and fashion go hand in hand, and we’ve benefitted hugely from the additional exposure these events have given us. It’s all about team work and making sure that local businesses work together and build each other up.
“Port Talbot is the centre of our brand but seven and a half years in and we’re continuing to take risks and thinking about expansion. There’s no limit to where it could go. As Port Talbot becomes more of a destination on the music and arts scene, we’re in the perfect place to keep growing and thriving.
“Why should you have to move away to achieve your dreams? Part of our collective personality is to run the town down but when you look at it, we’ve got everything we need here. There’s so much support within the creative community and so many opportunities to be part of it. Our brand speaks for itself in terms of our pride for Port Talbot and we know that others feel it too.”