Fullum & Holt: Morgan Lackman runs things with a firm grip

Located less than 10 minutes from downtown Montreal, Fullum & Holt’s artisans are making some of the fi nest leather accessories, shipping about 12 000 items a week to an impressive list of clients including Barneys, Saks and Holt Renfrew.
Intrigued? NIGHTLIFE met creative director (and grandchild of one of the company’s fi rst investors) Morgan Lackman to learn more about the venerable family business.

Hi, Mr. President! I am befuddled… When I met you, I thought you were the Creative Director of Fullum & Holt, but apparently you’re also the President of the company ?
Although I love it when you call me Mr. President, I think generally speaking, creative director works better for me. Running a fashion house isn’t like an investment fund the decisions are creative.

F&H was established in Montreal in 1897 and yet, most people are not familiar with the brand…
I’m working on improving awareness. Historically, Fullum & Holt made leather accessories for other brands like Ralph Lauren or Club Monaco. We still do that, but now I’m putting our own brand at the center of the strategy.

You recently collaborated with famous Montreal designer Denis Gagnon to create a beautiful collection of bags; how did that happen?
I saw his fashion show «Denise Back» and was really impressed with the way he used leather. He’s quite talented. The bags he designed will definitely stay in the collection, but we’re also moving toward items that are more reflective of our heritage. I want to use rich brown and tan leathers for my core collection.

What were you like as a little boy; were you always interested in fashion?
No, not fashion in particular, but design for sure. That’s why I generally hire industrial designers rather than fashion designers. They have a deeper scope in my opinion that can be applied to fashion with a lot more breadth.

Speaking of little boys, you look so young! Does it make it more difficult to be taken seriously?
I don’t think the way I look plays a huge role on where Fullum & Holt bags or belts are sold. If people love them, they buy them, without any thoughts about my strange lack of wrinkles and inability to grow facial hair (at 30 years old).