A new boutique which specialises in high quality menswear and offers a personalised service has opened in Upper Craigs, Stirling.
Calpa Menswear is run by Carl Lamming and stocks a variety of well-known UK brands including Weekend Offender, Luke 1977 and Pretty Green.
The store also sells handcrafted outerwear from Seam Junkies, an independent company based in North Lanarkshire, and takes orders for the firm’s unique, handmade clothing for customers.
Carl, who has many years of experience in the clothing and boutique industry, is a bubbly and friendly character who has carefully curated his collection of menswear and aims to offer much more than simply a shop.
Calpa’s motto is `Wear Bold. Live Well. Connect’ and the store, which offers complimentary drinks from a coffee bar, is very much a community space where men can connect, have a coffee and chat to Carl and each other about their interests and the type of clothing they want to buy.
He says: “Calpa is about creating a community—a place where men can browse high-quality gear, grab a coffee and feel at home. We believe in making style accessible while also creating a space which supports men’s mental health and social connection.
“The whole ethos is about having somewhere guys can come in and have a chat. When you get to a certain age, it can be difficult to meet new people and that was one of the reasons for opening Calpa – it’s much more than just a shop.
“I’m also interested in what brands and items of clothing people want to see in store and want them to feel that it’s as much their boutique, their shop, as it is mine.”
Carl is also planning to start a monthly ‘Coffee and Connect’ type event where men can come into shop on a specific day to meet other people and chat.
Calpa, which is based at the former Skills Development Scotland unit at 66-68 Upper Craigs, opened on Saturday March 29 and is already proving a popular addition to the city with its exclusive range of clothing, accessories and footwear.
Carl felt there was a real need for a menswear shop like his in Stirling and promised to listen to his customers and adjust his stock based on what they want to see.
Following a poll among customers, he has started stocking clothing from Marshall Artists and is focused on expanding his range based on customer feedback.
Carl, who lives in Falkirk, previously ran menswear boutiques in England and has worked in business roles with several companies.
He says: “After my last job, I decided I wanted to open a shop of my own with a unique ethos and hence the birth of Calpa. I felt there was a gap in the market with no menswear boutiques like this in Stirling so it was a chance to bring something new to the city.”
The name Calpa is a tribute to Stirling’s history and heritage and means ‘capital’ in Gaelic. It is also a reference to the first shop which Carl managed – Capital Collection in Grimsby.
Calpa is open every day from 10am until 6pm and more details about the business and the clothing it stocks can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
And despite not having been open for long, Calpa already has some first-class reviews on Google.
Rory McLeod writes: “Great shop with excellent selection of clothing! Lovely atmosphere and fantastic coffee. Would highly recommend popping in for a look. The owner is a good laugh and very friendly too!”
And from Samid P: “Carl is a great chap with great taste in men’s fashion. Great coffee and communication skills. Was able to sort me with a decent tee after ruining a top I was gonna wear to a gig. Wide range of styles and colours. Will be back very soon!”
Popped in last week, decent choice of clobber and the guys craic was good. Ended up buying a WO beanie but could have spent loads more. The Seam Junkie jackets are belters. Looking forward to my haircut next visit 😚