The Joules story began in 1989 when Tom Joule started selling clothing on a stand at a country show in Leicestershire. Tom knew his customers very well (a lot of them by name) and could see that the clothing they were wearing was very practical but lacked an edge. There was a huge difference between functional, built-to-last clothing and the bright and colourful styles that could be seen in towns and cities, there was nothing for people who wanted a balance of style and practicality.