We spent five minutes talking to Jamie Hodgson, founder of Whitehill & Paddock who are sponsoring the Estates Challenge at The Scottish Game Fair this year. Here’s how the conversation went.

How did you get the idea for Whitehill & Paddock?

Whitehill & Paddock is a nod to my grandpa’s love for field sports—he was a real old-school shooter. His stories and passion for the Scottish countryside stuck with me, inspiring the brand you see today. It wasn’t just about shooting jackets and trousers. It was about capturing that essence of tradition and blending it with a bit of modernity. We wanted to create something that speaks to everyone, whether you’re out in the wilds or just strolling through the city.

Handcrafted

Where do you get the clothes made?

We design in Scotland and manufacture in the UK. Our innovative material is bespoke for us out of Japan.

Who designs your clothes?

I knew nothing about designing clothes, but I knew what I wanted. I brought in the help of someone who has been not only designing clothing for the past 25 years, but had spearheaded the design of outdoor ranges for the likes of Montane, Craghoppers, Mountain Equipment and Sprayway. He knows what he’s doing!

What makes them different/special?

This is a tricky question… I think the fact that there are very few jackets that can look equally at home in the beating or shooting line as they do walking down an urban path with your dog in tow.

Do you go out stalking/shooting?

Yes, I do. I was beating on small and larger shoots from the age of five, stalking since I was a teenager and currently am part of several shooting syndicates across the south west of Scotland and Cumbria. My wife is a shooting widow come the season. Hopefully in a couple of years my young son will join me more and more.

Have you always lived in Scotland?

Although I have spent a lot of time in Asia and the US with work, I have also had a base in Scotland, whether it was in Dumfries where I grew up, Edinburgh where I studied or Glasgow where I currently work from.

What are the top sellers?

Although I was advised that people buy jackets way more than trousers, the Maxwelltown Overpants have been selling like hot cakes. In fact, we need to initiate another production run to keep up with demand.

What technical fabrics do you particularly rate?

While Gore-Tex is the industry standard, it isn’t breathable, so although the rain won’t get you soaked, your own sweat will do the job! Although I’m biased, microporous technology is our go-to. Although microporous sounds counter intuitive, the fabric is air permeable allowing maximum breathability, yet constructed from many small interconnecting micropores less than 1 µm in diameter. Microporous membranes are hydrophobic (water hating) and resist the passage of water, even under high pressure.

What else do you make, apart from jackets and trousers?

A smock and gilet are in the pipeline.

You can find out more about Whitehill & Paddock here.