YMC announces death of co-founder

YMC — the London-based independent retail brand whose initials stand for You Must Create — has announced the death of its co-founder Fraser Moss. The company said Moss died on 27 May.

In a tribute on its Instagram page, co-founder Jimmy Collins said: “It is with tears in my eyes I share the saddest news that dear Fraser, my business partner and creative director of YMC died peacefully on Saturday. Fraser had a beautiful spirit: a brilliant man, kind, cool and hysterically funny. He put his family first, a proud and dedicated dad to Phoenix and Biba and a loving husband to Jody.

“A DJ, designer, a collector. You Must Create was his mantra. He was doing what he loved, creating right up until the end. We have journeyed together, creating together, with a deep respect and love for one another. The whole YMC family will miss him terribly. Thanks for all the beautiful messages from the YMC community. We are so touched.”

Moss moved to London from Wales in the mid-1980s “with no clear plan – just a passion for music and clothes” and eventually “wore down Vivienne Westwood’s son Joe [Corré], and he gave me a job working with his mum. I spent five years there and gained a wealth of invaluable experience”.

He then started his own label, Professor Head. Meanwhile Collins was working for another brand, Komodo, and they had the same German agent who introduced them to each other. “From the beginning, it was the perfect match,” they said.

Moss praised Collins’ “brilliant business nous and experience, while I was buzzing with ideas, and a concept for a completely new brand”.

The brand launched in 1995, drawing its inspiration from workwear and military clothing. But this later morphed into a gender-neutral approach focused on low-key, timeless pieces with a music-meets-youth-culture influence.

The brand operates two standalone stores in London, as well as a shop in South Korean capital Seoul. It’s also stocked by major names including Liberty London, Farfetch, End and Goodhood.

A few years ago, in an interview marking the brand’s 25th anniversary, Moss and Collins emphasised how strong their working relationship was.

Collins said: “We weren’t friends initially. Our relationship has developed in tandem with YMC. And in some ways, it’s like a marriage. But we have become great friends. And we have mutual respect and understanding for what we each do.”

And Moss added that despite the success of the business: “This is fashion. It shouldn’t be taken too seriously.”

YMC announces death of co-founder

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