Merc

Merc was founded by Javid Alavi in London in 1967; the Merc trading name has been in continuous use since 15 September 1967. The business began trading from Kingly Market and Carnaby Court, with the Merc name initially displayed only inside the shop, before it expanded into a full shop on Carnaby Street. In its early years the shop also stocked other brands, including Fred Perry, Farah and Lonsdale, before later dropping outside labels to sell exclusively its own Merc-branded merchandise. Though the brand's roots are in mod and skinhead style - it became closely associated with Harrington jackets and target-motif polo shirts through the 1970s and 1980s revivalist scenes - Merc has since broadened into a worldwide retail and wholesale business.