Welcome to Nub News' market feature series, showcasing the faces behind Warwickshire's market stalls.

This week, Nub News spoke with Keith, founder of Rockpool Clothing, who has turned one of the most difficult chapters of his life into a thriving, eco-friendly clothing brand.

From Addiction to Recovery

Rockpool clothing was founded by Keith during what he describes as one of the most difficult chapters of his life.

After years of enjoying seasons in Cornwall and the French Alps, Keith found his lifestyle was becoming increasingly tied to alcohol.

He told Nub News, "I was alcohol dependent for years.

"I used to do the summer seasons and the winter seasons, so I used to live down in Cornwall during the summer, and I used to go to the French Alps for the winter and it is a very alcohol led lifestyle there.

"Gradually it got the better of me", explained Keith, and alcohol dependency took hold.

This week, Nub News spoke with Keith, founder of Rockpool Clothing, who has turned one of the most difficult chapters of his life into a thriving, eco-friendly clothing brand (image supplied)

After realising it was getting too far, Keith returned to his family home in Warwickshire six years ago and his path to recovery began.

"It took me three years to actually stop drinking. I was in and out of the hospital, rehab, and therapy," said Keith.

During his recovery, Keith turned to creativity as a way of staying connected to the outdoor lifestyle he loved but could no longer safely live.

What began as sketches and simple designs evolved into Rockpool Clothing.

Keith said: "I never imagined it would become anything at all."

"I was so poor, so ill, I was just lucky to get through it and get sober."

During his recovery, Keith turned to creativity as a way of staying connected to the outdoor lifestyle he loved but could no longer safely live (image supplied)

Initially, Keith shared designs with family and friends before taking a leap of faith in 2022 and launching the official Rockpool website.

He then stepped into local markets, where his brand really began to take shape.

Building Confidence Through Markets

Trading was more than a business move, it became part of Keith's recovery, but he explained, it wasn't easy: "Getting used to the outside world as a sober version of me was really, really difficult.

"So I thought, if I put myself in an environment every week where I had to talk to people, it would be as much about personal development as business."

At first, even leaving the house was a challenge, but Rockpool gave him confidence.

"Because I built the brand from nothing and knew it inside out, I felt comfortable talking about it.

Through CJ's Events Warwickshire, Keith secured a spot at Warwick Market, and more recently at the new Leamington Market (image supplied)

"Over time, I slowly became comfortable being out and about too."

Through CJ's Events Warwickshire, Keith secured a spot at Warwick Market, and more recently at the new Leamington Market.

To Keith's surprise, the response was immediately positive: "I never originally had a business plan, it was purely recovery-focused.

"So the fact it's caught on the way it has, and that I'm now trading weekly, is pretty incredible."

Rockpool Today

This month marks two important milestones for Keith with Rockpool turning two years old, and Keith celebrating 1,000 days sober this week,

From a single market stall, Rockpool now offers a growing range of eco-friendly clothing and accessories. 

Each item, whether T-shirts, hoodies, beanies, or rucksacks, is designed by Keith and made with organic cotton or recycled polyester.

Unlike many brands, Rockpool doesn't mass-produce and Keith prints to order, which means more choice in styles, colours, and sizes, while also keeping the brand sustainable and adaptable.

But for Keith, Rockpool is about more than clothing.

From a single market stall, Rockpool now offers a growing range of eco-friendly clothing and accessories (image supplied)

"I like people to know the story," he said.

"I get a lot of people come to me who don't know me and have come across the brand and have read the story behind it.

They come to the stall and are open about being through something similar or know people who have and are now sober, so it's a really nice platform to have created.

"As well as the business side of things, it's nice for people to be aware of a successful, positive recovery story, which can inspire other people, hopefully, to do something similar or to to make a change to their life and get better and get sober.

"It is a very special thing to do."

With weekly stalls in Leamington on Fridays and Warwick on Saturdays, plus Christmas markets on the horizon, Rockpool Clothing continues to grow, both as a business and as a story of resilience.