Tell us a little bit about yourself - 30 second elevator pitch!
Elevator pitch! Never done one of these! My name’s Milo, I’m from north London – Co-owner of Dukes Cupboard with Ned Membery.
Ned and I originally met over trading jackets. He had a vintage Ralph Lauren Polo jacket I wanted, I had a vintage Berghaus jacket he wanted, and we met up to swap and figured out he was selling clothes on a market stall in West London, I was selling clothes at market stall in Soho, so we decided to work together.
We’ve been sourcing and selling vintage designer and sportswear for a little over 11 years now, starting on a market stall in soho and now having a little shop in soho and one in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
I have always been into classic cars, especially my BMW E30 Baur from 1985, being my first.
What is your first memory of BMW M?
My first memory of falling in love with BMW’s style was in the movie, Paid in Full.
I remember watching the film when I was about 14, I was just thinking the cars, the clothes and the style all worked perfectly, it really was a bit of me.
What first attracted you to BMW M?
For me, it’s the style of the cars, more than the machinery or functionality - the way they look and how smooth they are is what first attracted me for sure.
You have always been excited by the 80s and 90s aesthetic. What drew you to it originally and what about those eras continue to inspire you?
The music and style from 1980s and 90s have always meant something to me.
Originally it was Hip Hop from New York and old 90s movies like Paid in Full and Kids, they changed my life watching those movies as a kid myself.
I also grew up in the 90s, and remember my dad wearing brands like Evisu & Stussy, I was always thinking they were super cool!
Why do you think parking a BMW M car outside your store supported your streetwear brand?
The BMW M2 we used in front of the shop in that beautiful Zandvoort Blue did look tasty outside the shop!
Our store is all about sourcing unique, one-off vintage pieces, and specialized pieces.
The M2 for me is certainly specialized, and in a league of its own.
You said that BMW M represents hip hop in the US and garage music in the UK, why do you connect the two?
I feel like Hip hop in New York and across the United States, Garage music and Drum and Bass in the UK both play a part in what we do at Dukes (Cupboard).
They are both genres of music I grew up listening to, and always looked up to certain artists in those scenes.
As long as I can remember BMW has had a place in both of these cultures and these scenes.
What is BMW M's role in the modern day automotive industry?
Today, I see BMW M as building some of the most innovative cars on the roads in 2024, also looking extremely slick, so clean and stylish.
If you could distill the BMW M brand into one of our current cars, which one would it be and why?
My favourite M car at the moment would have to be the M3 Touring.
To see the feel of that classic sedan silhouette, and then to see it on a shape that you normally associate with a family car turned on its head like that is amazing.
It’s a beast!
