Why Two Best Mates Quit Their Jobs to Build a Clothing Brand

We’re Jago and Felix - two mates that go way back.

We’ve been friends for over 20 years, having met at secondary school as 11-year-olds – back when we had far too much energy and were occasionally a little bit mischievous (sorry Helen and Pauline**). Whether it was on the bike, in cross-country races, or battling it out on the football pitch, we were relentlessly competitive — which probably explains a lot about where we are now.

**our mums

After school, we took completely different paths. I went to university to study History and Russian, eventually moving to Moscow for work, while Felix spent a decade as a professional athlete, culminating in his selection to race for Team Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics.

Then, Covid hit. The Olympics were postponed, and like everyone else, we suddenly found ourselves stuck at home, relying on regular Zoom calls to keep our sanity. Around the same time, I was debating whether to buy a bike to get fit again, years after a triathlon career that was, at best, bang average.

It was during those calls that our conversations turned to cycling — not just the sport itself (and the heroics of Tommy Voeckler and Jens Voigt, which still lived rent-free in our minds), but also the state of cycling apparel. Everything felt serious, monotonous and a little too polished. Every brand looked the same, followed the same formula, and, honestly? They didn’t feel relatable or particularly exciting.

So, over a few beer-fueled discussions, we decided to do something about it.

With a limited budget and an even more limited skillset, we did what we do best — ignored everyone’s advice and threw ourselves headfirst into the deep end.

Our first attempt? A terrible e-commerce website and, looking back, a pretty questionable first collection. But through a lot of sweat, a couple of tears, and plenty of figuring things out on the fly, we’ve managed to turn Angry Pablo into one of the fastest-growing brands in the space — now worn by thousands of people worldwide.

Our next drop is just weeks away, and it’s the first collection that fully embraces our hybrid approach — blurring the lines between cycling, running and everyday style.

Because for us, Angry Pablo was never about one specific sport. It’s about doing cool things, wearing nice clothes, and not taking ourselves too seriously in the process.

We’re not a global sportswear brand yet… but we like to think we’re just getting started.