Gay London Life | Oct '25 Edition - Magazine - Page 24
Introducing:
Coppwear
After spending 35 years working in the fashion
industry, Jonathan Copp wanted to start his own
brand inspired by the queer experience
Many of us will be familiar with the hanky code, but far fewer of us actually use it
in real life — why would we when we can use apps and crop-tops emblazoned
The Berlin Signature Hoodie
(Yellow Stripe) £145
The Berlin Signature Hoodie
(White Stripe) £145
with VERS BTM on the front?
That’s all well and good, but Jonathan Copp wants to hark back to an age
in which desires were more covertly communicated. That’s why he’s recently
launched his own fashion brand Coppwear, which he says is rooted in queer
history, fetish culture, and the underground languages of identity.
So what does that look like in practice? So far, the brand’s signature
piece is the Berlin Hoodie, so-called because the first samples were
taken to Folsom Europe back in 2023 and proved wildly popular.
Available with four colour variations (inspired by those famous
hankies), Jonathan designed the hoodies to be structured
enough to comfortably fit over fetish wear and heavyweight
enough to withstand the rigours of queer nightlife.
Over time, Jonathan hopes to expand the range
even further, but now’s the time to discover a queerowned and queer-inspired brand just as it’s taking off.
coppwearshop.com
HC Classic T-Shirt
£34
Never
Being
Boring
Six years after
premiering, the onewoman show MUSIK
returns to Wilton’s
Music Hall for a short
run — here’s what the
actress behind Billie
Trix, Frances Barber,
has to say...
How happy are you to be doing MUSIK again?
phone box for 10 years. How ridiculous, you might
happens again, but I’m five years older and if it
I’m deliriously happy. MUSIK was the most
think. But read Marianne’s autobiography and she
does, no one will care.
wonderful thing I’ve ever done in my life! Billie Trix
claims to have lived on a wall for two years! At least
The Pet Shop Boys wrote the soundtrack —
is every single iconic woman I’ve ever loved. She’s
Jonathan gave Billie somewhere to sit.
what’s your favourite song of theirs?
been there, done it and bought the T-shirt. I’m over
Do you feel like there are any similarities
Left to My Own Devices, because I remember being on
the moon to be bringing her back to life in the historic
between you and Billie?
tour in the middle of Australia in King Lear with my dear
Wilton’s Music Hall.
If you’re suggesting I am a drug addict, no! But like
friend Ian McKellen. Something happened. Shit always
Will this version be different from previous
her, I’m still here and performing, unbelievably! And
happens. Everyone was upset, and all of a sudden, Left
incarnations?
she also hates being called a grandmother.
to My Own Devices came on Spotify. I put it up to full
Only the ending — and I’m not giving that away!
How do you approach a one-woman show like
volume, danced around my hotel room and have never
Personally, I’m having to do pilates so I can dance
this when you’re on stage by yourself for an hour?
forgotten that. Of all the wonderful songs Neil and Chris
again!
The show is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever
have written, that one really resonates with me.
Who did you draw inspiration from for capturing
done and I’ve been Lady Macbeth twice. The only
your character, Billie Trix?
time in my entire career when I “dried” (forgot
MUSIK is on Tuesday 14th to Saturday 25th
Certainly no one I know! For the musical Closer to
what I had to say) was the very first preview at
October, Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, E1 8JB
Heaven, where Billie Trix first appeared, Jonathan
the Edinburgh Fringe because we had so little
Nearest Station: Tower Gateway
Harvey looked at the lives of Marianne Faithfull,
technical time before opening. I shouted “Line,”
wiltons.org.uk
Nico, and Debbie Harry for inspiration. I love all
so the operator called out the line from the script,
these enormous icons who have lived and seen
and I replied, “No, a line of cocaine!”. I got out of it,
everything. In MUSIK, Billie claims to have lived in a
but it scared the life out of me. I’m praying it never
24
