Hugo Taylor shot to fame as one of hit reality show Made In Chelsea's original cast members before quitting the show after three series to concentrate on other projects, including a brand new sunglasses range with friend and business partner Charles Morris.In an exclusive interview with HELLO! Online, Hugo sits down to chat about his new venture, how his girlfriend Natalie has proved to be a calming influence on the former party-goer, and his plans to rejoin the reality show.
Natalie gives me lots of fashion advice…She buys me lots of clothes and vice versa – I buy her lots of clothes. We have similar taste so it works out nicely.
She values my opinion when it comes to her style…She walks into the room and asks, 'Do you like what I'm wearing?' and if there's the slightest hesitation she goes to change!
There's been a lot of hype around me and Natalie returning to MIC…It's definitely something that we're discussing between ourselves and also between the producers. Once we're up and running with this [the Taylor Morris sunglasses range] I think it's something we're willing to pursue.
I'm still in touch with most of my MIC castmates…I see a lot of them on a daily basis. We're a bit like a family.
I've definitely changed since starting MIC…I'm far less arrogant. I'm also much harder working. I feel like I appreciate the value of everything and I've matured. It's only natural – I was 23 when I started the show and I'm 27 now so it's just that time in a young man's life.
Natalie has been a calming influence on me…Having her has made me much calmer. I'm not chasing tail all over town!
I'm happy with the way I was portrayed on the show…I was myself. If I came across as an a**hole then perhaps I was, but I've always acted as myself. That was always my thinking – if you go on a show like that and pretend to be somebody else, that can only last a certain amount of time. Anyone who was an angel in the first season had their legs taken out from under them on the second season. But the producers do try and make that happen.
Work-wise, I'm the happiest I've ever been…This sunglass venture has meant we've been busier than ever, but it's also the happiest I've been with my career. It's been a difficult process, but very rewarding.
Being nightclub promoters led us to creating this sunglasses range…Charles and I used to work at [exclusive London club] China Whites and were constantly going out. So in the day time, we were constantly tired and used sunglasses to hide our faces! We love sunglasses – it's always been a huge passion for both of us.
We wanted to create really good quality, beautiful sunglasses…Our guiding light was British sartorial elegance and timeless Hollywood glamour. We wanted to bring the values of Savile Row in terms of fit, strength of quality and craftsmanship, and incorporate that into the sunglasses to make a resolutely British product that hopefully transcends fashion.
Designing them was a challenge…We had four or five redesigns that involved going back to the drawing board and starting over again. It was really hard work – lots of blood, sweat and tears!
Our tagline is From London With Love…There's a lot of love in these. We care about you looking good because, you know, you're wearing our sunglasses.
The range is unisex…We started the collection thinking that we would really like the idea of having glasses whereby if I was sleeping at my girlfriend's house, I could pick up her sunglasses and wear them out.
Natalie looks fantastic modelling the sunglasses in our campaign…She's been heavily involved on many levels. With us being three men [business partner Nicholas], we definitely needed a female point of view!
Taylor Morris will be available to buy at Harvey Nichols and taylormorriseyewear.com. Prices start from £125.