Some brands feel like family; Jack Murphy actually is
Much like a trusty tweed jacket, Jack Murphy is one of those brands that, the more you wear it (and learn about it), the more you appreciate it.
We've stocked them for years, and if you, our loyal customers are anything to go by, the quality speaks for itself. When I first joined the family business, Jack Murphy filled our warehouse and our biggest challenge at the time was figuring out how to store the beautiful tweed garments in what was a converted agricultural barn!
But it wasn't until I properly sat down with their story that I realised just how much it mirrors our own: a family business, built on modest foundations, and the same values we grew up with here on the farm.
Once I did, it felt like a story worth telling. So join us as we pack our bags and head to Ireland to find out the story behind the country clothing, and the family that is Jack Murphy.
The Jack Murphy Story
Born in Dublin in 1922, Jack Murphy's path into clothing was anything but straightforward, but then, the best stories rarely are, right?
Before the brand, there was a trade to learn, and Jack started his working life at Leathams, a British underwear manufacturer with operations in Dublin. Here he quietly began mastering the art of garment construction, before the arrival of the Second World War in 1939 put a slight pause on this pursuit, and led to Jack swapping the cutting table for the RAF (including a posting to Hiroshima, no less).
Jack Murphy served as a radar controller in the RAF
Once the war was over, and calm was finally restored, Jack returned to Leathams to continue his craft, and did so for many years. But as we all know, fate has a way of showing up, and when the company eventually moved out of Ireland, Jack faced a choice: follow them, change course entirely, or back himself.
With a vision set (and a whole bolt of courage), he backed himself. He bought some old machines and, with his wife, Frances, started his own small underwear and corsetry factory in Skerries in 1973. Precise, purposeful, and now we look back, a decision that, more than half a century later, we're still talking about!
Michael (Jack's son) joined his father not long after (the exact dates lost somewhere between the fabric rolls and the order books, as they tend to be in family businesses), and he, too, learned every part of the process, from pattern-making to fabric and fit.
Initially upcycling and reselling army surplus garments across Ireland (and if you've read our own story, you'll know that particular detail raises a smile on our end), it was Michael who gradually evolved the business into the outerwear it's known for today. Coats built for Ireland's weather, jackets and waistcoats that style as well as they work, and tweed that only gets better with age.
Now in its third generation, Sarah has followed in her father Michael's footsteps, joining the business in 2018, with her brother Matthew not long after — marking a new chapter for Jack Murphy, but with all the same values.
Anything sound familiar yet?...
Sarah and her father Michael
Where the Two Stories Meet
The parallels between the two families were there from the very beginning- and sometimes I do wonder whether the Hollands and Murphys were always meant to find each other.
If you haven't already, it's well worth a read of our first newsletter edition: Farming to Fulfilment: How We Built Hollands Country Clothing from Our Grandma's Kitchen, because Malcolm Holland's wellie and country clothing venture (which began on a market stall in rural Cheshire in 1978) has more than a passing resemblance to what you've just read. No grand plan, no outside investment, just a farmer who believed in good value, good service, and taking an opportunity when he saw one.
When you look at it, it's not so different from a young man who learned his trade, served his country, returned home, and when the time came, backed himself to build something of his own in coastal Ireland.
Two founders, one story: Jack Murphy on the left, Malcolm Holland on the right
Both businesses grew the same way; slowly, honestly, and through the trust of the people who kept coming back. And both are now being carried forward by the next generation, trying to do justice to what their founders started.
There's something I find quietly satisfying about that. Even more so given that we're both called Sarah.
What Makes Jack Murphy Special
Here at Hollands we know that a good story only gets you so far, and Jack Murphy does far more than just talk the talk.
Their tweed, featured in favourites like the Isabella Tweed Coat and Sasha Tweed Jacket, is 100% wool, milled in Yorkshire in partnership with Abraham Moon & Sons — a family-owned mill that's been operating since 1837. Woolmark certified, fully traceable, and made by master weavers whose knowledge of the craft spans generations.
Isabella Tweed Coat left, Sasha Tweed Jacket right
An Irish heritage brand and a Yorkshire mill, both family-run, both with histories that are genuinely hard to find in today's world. It's exactly the kind of sourcing decision that tells you everything about how a brand operates.
Their waxed jackets- the men's Archie Wax Jacket and women's Orla Wax Jacket, are cut from Halley Stevenson Scottish waxed cotton: windproof, waterproof, breathable, and lined with the Jack Murphy signature print. Practical and stylish, with the kind of details that mean they look good on the first wear and even better on the fiftieth.
Archie Wax Jacket left, Orla Wax Jacket right
Running through all of it is a commitment we explored in Function Meets Fashion: Why Performance Still Sells- making things that last. Made-to-order production, slow fashion principles, and wool that biodegrades naturally rather than sitting in landfill for decades. For Jack Murphy, this isn't a recent pivot; it's been the standard for over half a century.
A New Chapter, The Same Values
I'll be honest, when we decided to write this piece, I knew the story was a good one. What I didn't expect was quite how many parallels were still left to find! Not only do we share a name, but as it turns out, so do our brothers- Matthew Holland and Matthew Murphy. At this point, I'm not sure it's a coincidence at all!
But I'll hand over to Sarah Murphy here, because nobody tells the next chapter of Jack Murphy better than she does:
"Working as part of a family business has its challenges, but also wonderful rewards -as Matt and the team know very well!
For anyone who has followed Jack Murphy over the years, you may have noticed we've been a little quieter of late. What we've actually been doing is researching, developing, testing and sampling, all with the goal of bringing our customers and loyal followers into the next chapter of Jack Murphy Clothing. Good things take time, and we believe that wholeheartedly. We don't do fast fashion; instead, we focus on design, quality, and styles built to stand the test of time. We hear all the time that Jack Murphy lasts too long and that people don't need to buy a second jacket. To be honest? That's music to our ears, and something Grandad Jack would certainly be proud of.
This coming AW26 season, I'm particularly excited about the work we've undertaken on our waterproof styles. These tried-and-tested silhouettes have been a staple of Jack Murphy for close to 30 years: the Malvern, Cotswold and Lambourne coats have served our customers incredibly well, and they don't owe us anything. But this is the end of an era for those styles, and what's coming next has been worth every minute of the wait.
Michael and the design and production team have spent over three years developing the new Connemara and Dingle styles, and while at first glance they may look familiar, the development was all in the fabric. Now waterproof, windproof, breathable, with a clean drape and a warmer quilted polycotton lining. We are confident you'll love them as much as your Malvern or Cotswold - and that you won't need to buy a second one for a very long time!"
Sarah Murphy, CEO, Jack Murphy Clothing
A Story Worth Telling
If Sarah Murphy's words haven't already convinced you that there's something quietly powerful about a brand that knows exactly who it is, after everything you've just read, I hope you'll agree that Jack Murphy is exactly that.
The strongest brands aren't built in boardrooms, but by people who care, over years of learning, with the same values running through each generation, and occasionally, it turns out, with very similar names.
Jack Murphy has always been a brand we're proud to stock, but more than that, it's a brand whose story we genuinely relate to. In an industry that moves so fast, that kind of staying power really does mean something.
If you haven't already, you can explore our full Jack Murphy collection, or head to jackmurphy.ie to read the full story for yourself.
And before you go- do you have a Jack Murphy piece that's stood the test of time? Or a family-run brand you think deserves more recognition? We'd love to hear about it!
As always, thank you for tuning in. See you next time!
About the Author
Sarah Holland
With her extensive firsthand experience of farm life and a keen eye for quality, Sarah Holland's advice on country clothing reflects her genuine appreciation for the joys and comfort of rural living. Whether it's a smart tweed jacket for a formal occasion or durable wellies for muddy walks, she knows what works for life in the countryside. Sarah loves sharing her knowledge and insights to help others discover the perfect attire for their outdoor lifestyle.
