After training to be an actor, John got into designing and making costumes when one of the shows needed some costumes done on the cheap. He enjoyed it so much he decided to study for a BTEC in Fashion and Design. He went on to work for several high street and haute couture retailers, including a stint designing ₤1000 ballgowns for Zandra Rhodes. In 1982, he set up his own business “Asquith Brown” making shirts first in his spare room and then moving to a small factory in Essex where he employed 140 people and was hand making up to 2000 shirts and 2000 ties a week. In 1983, he met Geoff Quinn, Managing Director of T.M.Lewin, who was looking for a designer to make exclusive, high quality shirts for them. He bought John’s operation and appointed him in-house Creative Director which John has now been for over 25 years