Tommy Mallet is ready to set the record straight.

Indeed, after nearly a year of legal entanglements with his former business partner, the 32-year-old entrepreneur and reality star is making his footwear industry comeback on his terms.

“I think everyone wants to know what’s going on,” Mallet told FN in an exclusive interview. “I’m literally getting thousands of messages. It has been a very hard and serious journey for me the last few months.”

Since December, Mallet, who’s real last name is Fordham, has been fighting an injunction filed by Mallet London cofounder and business director Evren Ozka following the announcement of his new shoe brand CTRNE.

According to legal documents, Ozka was alleging that Mallet could not launch a competing shoe company like CTRNE, work with previous retail partners and sales agents or poach Mallet London staff for the 12 months following his resignation from the company per a non-compete agreement. But Mallet countered the claim stating that CTRNE does not compete with Mallet and that halting his new self-funded business operations would produce enough financial damage to cause him to close entirely.

FN has reached out to Ozka for comment.

Mallet told FN that that the main retailer his former business partner was worried he would bring CTRNE to was Saks Fifth Avenue, but ultimately, he was restricted in doing business with a total of 10 different stores, he said.

Ultimately in April, a judge ruled to enforce Mallet’s non-compete and bar him from doing business with retailers that currently work with his eponymous shoe brand as well as hire previous colleagues until Oct. 31, 2024 — the one-year mark from when he resigned his director position at Mallet London.

“I don’t want to do any damage to either of my businesses, as I still own 50 percent of Mallet London, so I agreed to not talk to retailers through Oct. 31,” Mallet said. “It’s what I’ve had to do. I had to go and take a long holiday. I’ve lost a lot of money, but I’m at the end of this now. I’ve got another kid on the way in November, and I don’t want to have to deal with this mess. So, all that the injunction has done to me was make me even more eager to go out and get to work. I’m ready to go.”

Mallet went on to call Nov. 1 basically a “relaunch day” for when he can actually do what he wants with CTRNE going forward. And he hasn’t been resting on his laurels beforehand. During his downtime related to the injunction, Mallet said that he has been busy working to understand CTRNE’s customer, developing new footwear styles and building out the brand’s infrastructure.

“When I first launched CTRNE, there was a lot of excitement around the brand,” Mallet said. “But I sort of lost some of that buzz because I had to deal with this legal sh*t. But everything happens for a reason. We are still the first spiritual footwear brand in the world, and we have a story to tell. But I’m literally starting from scratch.”

The UK sneaker exec said that he has launched a new U.S. version of his brand’s e-commerce site, signed on a new marketing agency to promote this new site and has added a distribution center stateside to improve delivery times.

“My main priority right now is to pick who my retailers are in the States,” Mallet said. “I definitely want to open my own retail store over there, because I want to be able to give the full experience of CTRNE. I’ve also done a partnership in the paddle space. We’ll be affiliated to paddle as a sport, and then we’ll also be doing a lot of workshops where we’re not just doing fashion, but like teaching manifestation and law of attraction, and bringing that positivity to the community. We are not just trying to sell sneakers in stores. It’s about teaching and brining the experience to people and showing them that anyone can be better.”

But in the meantime, Mallet insists that there is “no bad blood” between him and Ozka. “I still own 50 percent of Mallet London and I’m still a shareholder. Whether anyone likes it or not, I still co-own the business,” Mallet insisted. “I may not be a part of the daily operations, but it’s in my interest to try and just keep both brands alive, which is tough when you’re fighting. But I ain’t going nowhere.”

He does admit, however, that perhaps he may have made some wrong decisions throughout the process of launching CTRNE. “Everyone is human, and everyone makes mistakes,” he noted. “I think I might have said a few things that I shouldn’t have said, but with that said, my partner thinks he should be getting the brand for free. That’s what this is all about. And obviously, no one’s getting nothing for free from me, man.”

“I thought I knew it all before, but turns out, I knew nothing,” Mallet admitted. “I learned that making sneakers is the easy part. Having been through so many different emotions over the last six months, I would never with it on my worst enemy. I’ve really had to put the message of my sneakers into action and have a taste of my own medicine.”

Bottom line, Mallet is ready to chart a new path. “I think I’ve been done well to stay quiet this long,” he added. “But it wasn’t for anything other than I was just enjoying my peace. But time’s up now.”

Months after co-founder Tommy Mallet stepped down from his role at his eponymous footwear brand, the company has launched a new look and range of products.

Starting today with the launch of Mallet London’s new summer collection, the company has a refreshed brand identity, featuring elevated designs, a new logo, reimagined content and an updated website.

“We’re carrying on moving ahead after some changes at the top,” Evren Ozka, co-founder and business director of Mallet London, told FN in an interview referring to Mallet’s exit late last year. “There’s obviously been a bit of controversy around the situation. He still technically owns his shares, but we’re just carrying on moving the business forward.”

Ozka noted that Mallet’s exit, didn’t really move the needle for consumers outside of the UK. “We’ve done some research on this, and it didn’t really affect us at all,” he said. “It was only really an issue for some of the consumers in the UK, but international wise, it doesn’t really affect us.”

“We’re taking this time to move the collection into a new direction, while still remaining loyal to our core consumer,” Ozka added. “We’re just focused on elevating the brand and moving it forward.”

According to Ozka, the latest collection aims to showcase newer high-quality materials and contemporary designs. Highlights include vibrant new colors and lightweight iterations of best-selling styles like the Popham sneaker.

Mallet has also introduced the Jupiter sneaker, with its distinctive chunky silhouette and ergonomic sock design. Available in unisex colorways, the Jupiter is a running-inspired silhouette that features a bubble heel detail.

The brand has also launched a new basketball shoe called the Compton. The ‘90s-inspired silhouette makes for a wider-fit and features more of Mallet’s new range of elevated materials.

“This is our best collection yet,” Ozka said. “We’ve been working on this for months and are incredibly excited to share it with everyone. We’ve pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible for us as a brand and the result is something that we’re all extremely proud of. We’re proud to be a British brand and have continued to draw on inspiration from our surroundings and remain loyal to our core values.”

And while Ozka has been focused on elevating the brand, the pricing strategy remains unchanged. The new collection ranges from $235 to $295 and is currently available at us.mallet.com and saksfifthavenue.com. “We try to stay loyal despite the rising costs of making shoes,” Ozka said. “We’ve stayed at a consistent price, which is not in line with what you have seen in the market over the last couple of years.”

As for what’s next, the executive noted that Mallet will be launching a new collaboration focused on highlighting its women’s business, which debuted in 2019, later this year. As of now, Ozka noted that Mallet’s women’s segment makes up about 30 percent of its business, but he is looking to grow that figure.

“The goal is to be about 60 percent men’s, 40 percent women’s by the end of next year,” Ozka said. “So we’re really pushing the women’s category growth because the demand is definitely there. We also just bought on a new women’s designer. So towards next year, you’re going to be seeing more boots from us, you’re going to be seeing more sandals, possibly some jellies. You know, more products that are just geared towards women’s and building a whole collection.”

Next year may also bring more retail opportunities. While wholesale is on the rise, Ozka teased that there may be some pop-up shops coming soon. “We just recently launched wholesale accounts in Turkey, Germany and South Africa, while also ramping up our distribution in the U.S.,” he said. “We may also look into opening some pop-up experiences in 2025.”

Mallet London and Smiley launched their first collaborative capsule collection on Monday, revamping the British footwear brand’s Neptune silhouette.

Offered in black and white monochrome colorways, the luxury sneakers feature tiny yellow smiley-face baubles within their clear bubble heels.

The Neptune’s upper is crafted with durable ripstop underlays and matte leather overlays. Additional details include reflective piping, yellow smiley aglets, branding on the heel tabs and a Mallet charm adorning the laces. All shoes will come with a commemorative box and Smiley-branded key chain.

“It’s been amazing working with such a like-minded institution like Smiley,” Mallet London co-founder Evren Ozka said in a press release. “Their brand is all about positivity and creating a collection that people can be proud to wear and relate to. We feel like this aligns perfectly with who we are here at Mallet.”

Retailing at $320, you can shop the playful style exclusively at mallet.com.

Previously, Mallet London collaborated with Reebok on a sneaker capsule collection inspired by the UK music scene in the ‘90s and 2000s. The joint effort included two sneaker styles — Reebok’s Workout Plus and Classic Leather sneakers.

Mallet London was founded by Tommy Mallet, who first rose to fame on the U.K. reality show “The Only Way Is Essex.” With the help of Ozka, he debuted his eponymous footwear label in 2015. However, Mallet (note: real last name Forham) announced in December that he would be stepping away from the brand.

In an exclusive interview with FN, Mallet revealed he already founded a brand-new “spiritual sneaker brand,” CTRNE. The self-funded company’s name refers to the citrine crystal, aka the “success stone,” which is embedded in the soles of each shoe.

After eight years at the creative helm of his eponymous brand Mallet London, Tommy Mallet is ready for something new.

The 31-year-old entrepreneur and reality star, who’s real last name is Fordham, made the announcement on social media last week that he was stepping away from his role at Mallet London, leaving his 1.1 million Instagram followers wondering, “Where has Tommy gone?”

“I’ve done all I set out to accomplish with this brand, and I’m forever grateful for what I’ve learnt and who I’ve met along the way,” Mallet wrote on Instagram. “I love you all involved (even the ones I’ve been in legal battles with) because without you I wouldn’t be who I am today and wouldn’t be prepared for what’s in front of me in my journey!”

Now, in an exclusive interview with FN, Mallet has revealed that he is stepping out on his own to launch a brand-new shoe company. “I have something that’s going to change the game forever,” Mallet declared while “bursting with excitement” on a Zoom call with FN. “It’s not normal. It’s f***ing insane.”

Called CTRNE, Mallet describes his new self-funded company as a “spiritual sneaker brand,” which gets its name from the citrine crystal. Known as the “success stone,” citrine is believed to bring wealth, prosperity, and success, while also revitalizing the mind and promoting creativity, he said.

Each pair of CTRNE sneakers features a one-inch thick citrine crystal embedded in the sole that goes straight through the shoe, connecting the wearer’s foot with the ground. “There’s nothing stopping the natural energy going through that crystal into the main pressure point of your foot,” Mallet said—pointing out the shoe’s key design detail. “So, you’re not only absorbing the energy coming through the ground, but you’re also gaining the benefits from these thousand-year-old crystals, which aim to bring you prosperity. These are a wearable manifestation tool. That’s why the company’s mantra and word mark is ‘Step into Abundance.’”

Other key design elements from the inaugural CTRNE shoe include insoles that are sprayed with a citrus-blended fragrance for an aromatherapy-like experience and a unique toweling material used on the interior of the shoe – intended to bring comfort to those wishing not to wear socks.

The debut collection, which will officially launch in January, will feature seven colorways of one initial sneaker model across both men’s and women’s sizes. More models and colorways are expected to drop throughout the year in 2024. A waiting list opens for preorders on Friday, Dec. 1 at Ctrne.com.

According to Mallet, the idea for CTRNE was born out of his need to heal after a year filled with loss. In April, Mallet and his fiancé Georgia Kousoulou made the public announcement that their unborn baby had not survived following Kousoulou’s 12-week check-up. The couple further shared their painful miscarriage journey on the fourth installment of the UK reality show “Georgia & Tommy: Baby Steps” earlier this year.

“My Misses and I lost a child in April, and as we were dealing with the loss, Georgia encouraged me to get some spiritual readings and to go see a psychic as she had been doing for some time,” Mallet said. “And when I finally did it, the psychic told me that my destiny was elsewhere, and that the best was yet to come in my career.”

Mallet said that as he got more and more into his spirituality, he was seeking to cut out stress and bring peace into his life – which ultimately led him to discovering the power of crystals. “I started carrying a citrine crystal with me to manifest all of its good benefits,” Mallet said. “And when I was thinking of what my next career move would be, I realized the answer was right in front of me.”

“You know, you’re supposed to do two things when you’re trying to manifest a goal,” Mallet added. “Number one is to think about it in the morning, and number two is to think about it in the evening. So, if you’re wearing my new shoes, you will see the crystal and think of your goal first thing in the morning when you put the sneakers on and in the evening when you take your shoes off. So, this is my crazy concept.”

Asked how he plans to attract consumers who don’t necessarily believe in mindfulness and the power of crystals, Mallet said he isn’t looking to convert anyone into his way of thinking nor to preach to anyone. “I’m not looking to change people’s minds,” Mallet said. “I don’t even want this brand to be massive and distributed in every store. I don’t want to be a part of a massive company anymore. I plan to grow this slowly and with purpose. CTRNE is designed to appeal to those that are looking for wellness or are looking for their next steps in life.”

And as for what happens to Mallet London now that its namesake has left, the company has added new leadership. According to a filing with Companies House in the UK, former Hunter Boots, Jigsaw and Canterbury CEO Christopher Stephenson assumed the position of Mallet London’s director upon Tommy’s exit on Oct. 31. Mallet’s other cofounder Evren Ozka remains at the company.

According to Mallet, he is still part owner in the company he cofounded with Ozka in 2015, retaining 50 percent of the shares in the business. “Mallet is still something I’m proud of, I just wasn’t willing to put a million percent of myself into the company anymore,” Mallet admitted. “And I never thought I’d actually say that until this year.”

Mallet steps away from Mallet London as the company reported total sales of 17.5 million British pounds ($22.1 million based on current exchange) in the year ended Jan. 31, 2023, according to an Oct. 30 filing with Companies House. In the filing, the company said that it saw “significant growth” compared to the prior year across its online, owned retail and international sales channels despite the current macroeconomic climate.

But, as he summed up his new project and outlook on life, Mallet optimistically looked to the future. “I’m basically trying to make sure that this next year is going to be the best year of my life.”

It’s not often that two sneaker brands come together on one project, but never say never.

On Wednesday, Mallet London announced it has teamed up with Reebok on a new sneaker capsule collection inspired by the UK music scene in the ‘90s and 2000s.

According to the UK-based footwear brand, the capsule features two shoe styles that were prevalent on the streets of London during this pivotal time in music history – Reebok’s Workout Plus and Classic Leather sneakers.

The unexpected collaboration is the result of a chance meeting between Mallet London co-founder Tommy Mallet and Reebok executives.

“I was introduced to Authentic Brand Group the day they signed the deal with Reebok,” Mallet told FN. “I met with Nick Woodhouse and Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky and explained my ideas. They made it happen straight away and made me feel super comfortable. Reebok is a huge part of where I come from, so we had a lot to chat about. Todd knew the stores I bought my first Reeboks when I was a young.  This is a full circle moment for me. We are so happy with the finished product and the collaboration.”

Both the Mallet London x Reebok Classic Leather and Workout Plus were designed with city kids in mind and feature the original Reebok leather, the company added, each being available in triple black and white colorways. The triple black is a nod to the daily uniform of noughties kids while the all-white is made for nights and weekends. Finishing the shoes are signature Mallet London details including a silver heel clip, metal tongue tab, perforated ‘M’ embossing and London bus ticket keychain.

Mallet added that this collaboration is “the biggest moment in Mallet’s history so far.”

“To be collaborating with one of the giants of the sportswear industry in Reebok is a truly proud moment for myself and the brand,” he said. “Reebok was and still is a huge part of the UK music and garage scene, but not only that it was a uniform for me and my friends in the early 2000s and a huge part of my childhood. To be able to recreate the Workout Plus and Classic Leather with a Mallet touch is something I’ve dreamed of for years.”

As for what is next for Mallet London, co-founder Evren Ozka told FN that they are “just getting started,” as this new collaboration with Reebok helps to “solidify” the brand’s name and add “credibility” in the industry.

“We’ve also been pushing our international expansion in the U.S., Europe and Middle East with collaborative pop-up shops in stores like Printemps in Paris, KDW in Berlin and Harvey Nichols in Dubai, and we’re not slowing down,” Ozka said. “Our plan is to use this year as a baseline for what’s to come. Our brand is very well-known in the UK, and we are working hard to make it so in the rest of the world. Asia is next on the list for global expansion, and we’re doing the groundwork now to make a strong start there in 2024.”

Tommy Mallet, who first came to fame on the U.K. reality show “The Only Way Is Essex,” started his eponymous footwear and fashion label with Ozka in 2015 and has been building the business through his passion for sneakers.

Originally launched as a men’s sneaker brand, retailers and consumers have since embraced the entrepreneur’s vision as he’s expanded beyond men’s to offer shoes and apparel for women and kids.

In May 2021, the brand finally cracked the U.S. market with a pop-up at Fred Segal’s Sunset Boulevard flagship store in Los Angeles as well as debuting in select Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Earlier this year, Mallet London signaled a new design direction with the launch of its Neptune sneaker. And in August, Tommy Mallet expanded his fashion portfolio to include apparel by acquiring a 49 percent stake in UK sportswear brand Condition.

The new Mallet London x Reebok collection will be available for $250 in unisex sizing at Mallet.com beginning Nov. 30.

Called the Neptune sneaker, Mallett said the shoe is a nod to London’s Gherkin building and marks a new design direction for the 8-year-old footwear brand.

Crafted from versatile mesh, luxe leathers and a molded cage that encapsulates the upper, the Neptune captures the skyscraper’s unique curved window structure in a lightweight design that combines comfort and functionality. The style also features an innovative bubble outsole design that enhances traction and stability, Mallet said.

“The eagerly awaited Neptune represents the rebirth of Mallet London, our creative journey started amidst the council tower blocks, only to soar to new heights with inspiration drawn from the city skyscrapers,” Tommy Mallet, founder and creative director of Mallet London, said in a statement.

Mallet London’s new Neptune sneaker, which retails for $280, will be available in men’s and women’s sizes, and in 13 colorways, on us.mallet.com and at Saks Fifth Avenue from May 31. Except to see more new styles reflecting the brand’s new direction to come later this year and next spring.

Tommy Mallet, who first came to fame on the U.K. reality show “The Only Way Is Essex,” started his eponymous footwear and fashion label in 2015, and has been building his business through his passion for sneakers.

Originally launched as a men’s sneaker brand, retailers and consumers have since embraced the entrepreneur’s vision as he’s expanded beyond men’s to offer shoes and apparel for women and kids.

In May 2021, Mallet finally cracked the U.S. market with a pop-up at Fred Segal’s Sunset Boulevard flagship store in Los Angeles as well as debuting in select Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Retailers and consumers have embraced the entrepreneur’s vision as he’s expanded beyond men’s sneakers to offer shoes and apparel for women and kids. The brand is now carried in more than 145 stores in the U.K., Europe, Dubai and South Africa, including Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

And now, it has finally cracked the U.S. market.

In May, Fred Segal hosted a Mallet pop-up in its Sunset Boulevard store. And this month, the brand will make its debut at Saks Fifth Avenue’s Miami and Beverly Hills, Calif., locations — as well as online — where fans can access seven exclusive styles, including the Diver 2.0 in gray and the Kingsland White Reflect featuring a clear sole.

Mallet, who recently welcomed a son with girlfriend Georgia Kousoulou, caught up with FN just ahead of the Saks debut to talk about achieving this long-held dream.

How is the U.S. rollout going so far?

TM: It’s been an amazing few months businesswise. I’ve been trying to expand to the States for five years, but we didn’t get nowhere with it because we didn’t have the right formula in place. Now we’ve got our PR companies behind us. I’ve got a distribution center and more contacts in the industry. And it’s come to the point where we’re delivering to Saks Fifth Avenue now. We’ve also had a pop-up store at Fred Segal. Funny enough, Fred Segal was a store I met five years ago when I was in L.A., but the timing wasn’t right for us as a company. We had a lot to learn back then. And we just didn’t have enough experience in how to deal with American business.

What are the big differences between the U.K. and U.S. markets?

TM: “I’m English, so I couldn’t go into the stores with my swagger that I’ve got and rely on that. There’s only 68 million people in the U.K. — there’s not that many people — and there really are not many people like me. You go to the States and every other person’s a character, so I’m just another guy in the fashion industry. But it’s been perceived very well for us. We’ve also had really good press. People have been interested in the story of us. Because of lockdown, there’s been a lot of doom and gloom going on, so it’s nice to see something new come out.”

What do retail buyers like about your brand?

TM: “The brand is very accessible, the price point is right and the quality is high — it ticks a lot of boxes. Not only that, I’ve also got quite a big presence in the brand, with me being the creative director and owner. And I’ve got quite a lot of followers on Instagram. That plays a part in it because I’m always posting stores I work with, so that goes hand in hand. And plus — I’m quite tired now [because we have a new baby] — but in normal day-to-day life, I’m actually quite fun and outgoing.”

Mallet started as a luxury sneaker label, but you’ve since added apparel and accessories for men, women and kids. Are shoes still important to you?

TM: “I live and breathe sneakers, ever since I was a kid. Shallow as it sounds, I grew up basically measuring people’s success on what sneakers they had on. I just love the story behind everything. I love that I could walk down the road with a pair of sneakers on and someone can relate to who I am as a person by the shoe I’m wearing. I’d actually stop people in the street if they were carrying a bag with a shoebox in it because I wanted to know what they bought. And I’ve gone on to develop as a brand selling clothing, kids’ shoes and ladies’ shoes, but the core of the brand and what I stand for is men’s footwear. I’m absolutely obsessed.”

Now that you’ve entered the U.S., what’s next on your to-do list?

TM: “It’s just to literally take what I’ve done in the U.K., bring it to the States, bring it to Canada, I’m going to take it to Australia and I’m going to take it to the world. And I’m going to be one of the [biggest brands out there] in the next five to 10 years. I want to build something I can leave to my son now, so I’ve definitely got a fire in my belly.”