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CAPTAIN FAWCETT MEETS ROMAIN — A GENTLEMAN'S VISIT TO BELGIUM'S OLDEST BARBERSHOP
British Eccentricity, Belgian Craftsmanship and the Art of Doing Things Properly
By Stijn De Sutter
Some people walk into a room and immediately change its atmosphere.
Not because they're loud. Not because they demand attention. But because they carry something rather difficult to manufacture.
Character.
Richie Foley, the man behind the world-renowned Captain Fawcett brand, is one of those people.
And recently, he found his way to a rather special corner of Ghent.
ROMAIN Coupure.
Belgium's oldest barbershop.
Two worlds with an extraordinary appreciation for tradition, craftsmanship and the finer details of gentlemanly life.
As it turns out, they make a rather excellent combination.
A British Gentleman in an Old Belgian Barbershop
There's something wonderfully appropriate about welcoming Captain Fawcett into a barbershop with roots stretching back to the nineteenth century.
Our ROMAIN Coupure location isn't just another barbershop.
It's a piece of living history.
A place where generations of gentlemen have sat in barber chairs, discussed the state of the world, and trusted someone holding a sharp piece of steel remarkably close to their throat.
Some things never change.
And frankly, some things shouldn't.
When Richie Foley visited us, there was an immediate connection between the history of our barbershop and the unmistakable character of Captain Fawcett.
British eccentricity meeting Belgian tradition.
A little humour.
A great deal of craftsmanship.
And an almost unreasonable obsession with doing things properly.
Exactly the kind of company I enjoy keeping.
Richie Foley — More Than a Brand
Let's talk about Richie.
Because behind Captain Fawcett's extraordinary visual identity stands a man who has become something of an icon in the international barbering community.
And rightly so.
Richie understands something that many brands have forgotten.
A product is never just a product.
It's an experience.
From the fragrance to the texture, from the bottle to the typography, every detail tells a story.
And Captain Fawcett tells that story exceptionally well.
The packaging alone deserves attention.
Beautifully designed bottles, vintage-inspired labels and an unmistakable British identity.
You could place some of these products in a gentleman's private collection and nobody would question their presence.
But here's the interesting part.
Behind all that magnificent packaging, the products actually deliver.
And that's where Captain Fawcett earns my respect.
Because beautiful packaging might convince someone to buy something once.
Quality is what brings them back.
The fragrances are distinctive, the presentation is exceptional, and the attention to detail is evident throughout the collection.
British grooming at its most charming.
A little extravagant, perhaps.
But never without purpose.
And when you consider the quality in relation to the price, Captain Fawcett offers something rather difficult to beat.
It's luxury without the unnecessary arrogance.
Something I appreciate enormously.
When Collaborations Become Friendships
My relationship with Captain Fawcett didn't simply begin with a product catalogue.
It developed through the international barbering community and our shared connections with the Scapicchio Academy.
Over the years, I've had the privilege of connecting people, brands and professionals who share a genuine passion for traditional barbering.
And sometimes, those connections develop into something considerably more meaningful.
Captain Fawcett, the Scapicchio Academy and ROMAIN share a common appreciation for craftsmanship, education and tradition.
Different backgrounds.
Different identities.
But a remarkably similar philosophy.
As a Master Barber and educator within the Scapicchio Academy, I consider building these relationships an important part of my work.
Because international collaborations shouldn't simply exist to put another logo on a website.
They should create opportunities.
For education.
For exchanging knowledge.
For developing our profession.
And ultimately, for bringing exceptional products and experiences to our customers.
A good collaboration connects brands. A great collaboration connects people.
And that's precisely what happened here.
Captain Fawcett Finds a Home at ROMAIN Coupure
Today, we're proud to represent Captain Fawcett as ambassadors of the brand.
And there's something particularly satisfying about giving these products a home inside Belgium's oldest barbershop.
Not as decoration.
Not simply as another name on a shelf.
But as part of the ROMAIN experience.
Our barbers use Captain Fawcett products during their services, allowing customers to discover the fragrances, textures and quality firsthand.
And naturally, the collection is also available to purchase.
Because there's little point in introducing someone to an exceptional fragrance if they can't take it home afterwards.
At ROMAIN Coupure, Captain Fawcett becomes part of the atmosphere.
The historic barber chairs.
The traditional shaving tools.
The smell of shaving soap.
The sound of steel.
And now, a rather distinguished collection of British grooming products.
A British gentleman has found himself a permanent address in Ghent.
And judging by the surroundings, I suspect he'll feel quite at home.
The Art of Selling Something You Actually Believe In
I've always believed that the best products are the easiest to recommend.
Not because of clever sales techniques.
But because you genuinely believe in what you're offering.
When a customer asks me about Captain Fawcett, I don't need a prepared sales pitch.
I can talk about the fragrances.
The quality.
The presentation.
The people behind the brand.
And, perhaps most importantly, my own experience with the products.
That's the difference between selling something and standing behind something.
At ROMAIN, we're very selective about the brands we represent.
Our shelves aren't intended to become a supermarket of grooming products.
We prefer carefully chosen collections with a clear identity and a genuine connection to our philosophy.
Captain Fawcett fits that approach beautifully.
And let's be fair.
When a product smells magnificent, performs exceptionally well and looks like it belongs in a Victorian gentleman's private bathroom, half the conversation has already been won.
The other half?
That's where our barbers come in.
Knowledge, service and a little Belgian hospitality.
The Boutique — A Dangerous Place for Gentlemen with Good Taste
There's another reason why Captain Fawcett belongs at ROMAIN.
Our boutique.
Because a proper barbershop should offer more than a haircut.
It should be a place of discovery.
A place where a gentleman can walk in for a shave and leave having discovered a fragrance he never knew he needed.
Perhaps a beard oil.
Perhaps a beautifully presented grooming product.
Perhaps something he absolutely didn't intend to buy.
These things happen.
Especially when the packaging is this good.
And frankly, I refuse to apologise for it.
Our ROMAIN boutique is an extension of our philosophy.
Carefully selected products.
Interesting stories.
Exceptional craftsmanship.
And objects that deserve their place on the shelf.
Captain Fawcett brings a wonderful sense of British adventure to that collection.
A little eccentricity never hurt anyone.
Particularly when it smells this good.
The People Behind the Craft
But beyond the products, the packaging and the international recognition, there's something I value even more.
The people.
I've met countless professionals throughout my travels in the barbering industry.
Some have impressive titles.
Others have impressive businesses.
A few have both.
But the people who leave the greatest impression are usually those who remain genuinely passionate about what they do.
Richie Foley is one of them.
His personality, his presence and his remarkable attention to detail have helped make Captain Fawcett an internationally recognised name.
But what makes the collaboration particularly enjoyable is the human connection behind it.
The conversations.
The shared appreciation for craftsmanship.
The humour.
And the understanding that tradition doesn't have to be boring.
Quite the opposite.
Tradition becomes interesting when passionate people give it new life.
That's something I believe strongly at ROMAIN.
We respect the past.
But we're not interested in living in it.
We want to carry the best of it forward.
And surround ourselves with people who feel the same way.
From Britain to Ghent — A Story Worth Continuing
Looking back on Richie's visit, I find it rather remarkable how international barbering brings people together.
A British grooming brand.
An Italian barbering academy.
A historic Belgian barbershop.
Different countries, different traditions and different personalities.
Yet somehow, they meet in a small barbershop along the Coupure in Ghent.
And it makes perfect sense.
Because good craftsmanship doesn't need a passport.
It travels through people.
Through conversations.
Through shared knowledge.
And through the willingness to recognise quality wherever you find it.
For ROMAIN, becoming an ambassador for Captain Fawcett is something we're genuinely proud of.
Not simply because of the brand's international reputation.
But because we believe in the products, the people and the philosophy behind them.
And we're delighted to introduce that world to our customers.
A Final Word to Richie
Richie,
Thank you for visiting us in Ghent.
For bringing a little British eccentricity into our historic barbershop.
For the conversations, the trust and the opportunity to represent a brand with such a distinctive character.
It's a pleasure to welcome Captain Fawcett into the ROMAIN family.
And I look forward to seeing where this collaboration takes us.
Because at the end of the day, the most interesting part of our profession isn't always the razor, the chair or the products.
It's the people we meet along the way.
And occasionally, one of those people arrives with a magnificent moustache, an extraordinary personality and a collection of fragrances that make your entire boutique smell considerably more expensive.
Not a bad day's work.
Welcome to ROMAIN, Captain Fawcett.
Your Belgian headquarters awaits.
And to the gentlemen of Ghent:
The Captain has arrived.
You know where to find him.
That's the Protocol.
Want to join the Scapicchio Academy at ROMAIN in Ghent, belgium?
Get in touch to plan your 1-on-1 training with Master barber Stijn De Sutter and take your straight razor, honing and shaving services to the next level. Send us a Email
Ready for the real thing?
If you want more than just a good story and you’re ready to sharpen your craft (or your own look), you know where to find us.
From straight razor training and honing on natural stone to classic shaves and serious beard work in the chair, ROMAIN Barbershop & Academy in Ghent is where it actually happens—no noise, no shortcuts.
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Academy info, courses or questions
Email: info@romainghent.be and we’ll take it from there.
Website ROMAIN: http://www.romainghent.be
Website Scapicchio Academy: http://www.scapicchioacademy.com
