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The concept for the Van Mildert store was the brainchild of brother and sister, Darren and Lisa Cane alongside Christopher Hayes. After serving a lengthy apprenticeship at Psyche in Middlesbrough where they were senior men’s wear buyer, ladies buyer and manager respectively, they decided to put their considerable experience and expertise in the fashion industry into practice.

Van Mildert was opened in 1995 in Durham City, the building was the old House of Correction – prison that dated back to the seventeenth century, so we felt the right name for the store had to be chosen.
William Van Mildert (1765-1836) was the last Prince Bishop of Durham from 1826 to 1836, and one of the founders of the University of Durham. His name survives in Van Mildert College, founded in 1965 and the Van Mildert Professor of Divinity.

Our original store was over three floors, selling designer men’s wear and ladies wear, along side home wares, art, furniture, antiques and gadgets, and we branded the store as “ a lifestyle store for men and women”
We searched the globe looking for the best clothing available, from fashion shows in Paris to show rooms in Milan then onto New York, we had a very big celebrity following, who loved our discreet service and fantastic products.

The store went onto win award after award, from Best new store, Designer retailer of the year, best marketing campaign, but the one Van Mildert are most proud of is Customer Service, and this is still something that Van Mildert in Sunderland base there business around.

Van Mildert www.vmclothing.co.uk now has a store in Sunderland City, with over 4000sq ft dedicated to designer men’s wear from MQT jeans, Selected home, Armani, Hugo Boss, hand crafted shoes from Sanders and Sanders, Liam Gallaghers Pretty Green collection to name a few and lifestyle products from Timex 80 watches and Zoe and Morgan. Within the store we have a tailor, suit hire, vintage shop, bridal store and a hair salon and beauty rooms.
Van Mildert is ran by Christopher Hayes, the only remaining original founder.

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