J2

🐾Pack Mentality Spotlight: J2 (Jackal Workwear) 🐾

Intro

At Jackal Workwear, Pack Mentality isn’t just a motto—it’s the heart of everything we do. This spotlight features J2, one of the original Jackals, sharing exactly how The Pack started, what drives it forward, and why community, honesty, mental health, and tool theft matter most.

 

Q&A with J2

Why did you start The Pack?

“J1 and myself were chatting one day and came to the agreement that other than Brawn, there wasn’t really any community focused workwear brands. So we thought we would have a go, I’ll be honest I had no expectation it would become what it has.

It allows us to make noise about things that matter to both of us personally and the Pack as a whole. That and although the hours along with running another business at times can be silly, it is so rewarding. Seeing you guys wear the gear and also some of the DM’s we get truly drive us forward.”

 

What made you get into the trade?

“I literally fell into it, I actually was done with all of it a few years ago but gave it one last swing and am glad I didn’t give up. I come from farming stock and to be honest many of the hardships within agriculture are very similar to the trade. I’ve been in the industry for coming up to 15 years now.”

 

If you were a tool, what would you be and why?

“A combination square, they are versatile, reliable and generally underrated.”

 

What Jackal design do you want to see next and why?

“This isn’t really my choice, or J1’s. But we are working on a few things in the background, we would love to launch a collaborated Mental Health Specific Range, with a couple of others in the space… watch this space”

 

Your question for The Pack

“If you could emigrate to anywhere in the world for work (money not a concern) where would you go, and why?”

 

Industry Insights

Mental Health in Construction

“Let’s not beat around the bush we have a crisis in our industry when it comes to mental health, statistically we are up to for time more likely to die by suicide than many other sectors of the UK economy.

For me personally I was diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety in 2019 after a long battle with myself and having some really dark moments and almost doing things I wouldn’t have come back from. Luckily I had a fantastic GP and also found a therapist that changed the way I look at both myself and life in general. I had lost the ability to look more than a day or so ahead of where I was and looking back on it now it’s frightening.

As Jackal this is one of our key pillars, we have both been there at times, whilst we cannot understand everything that everyone is going through – our DM’s are always open even if it is just to vent. We will always be here for you and where we can try to point you in the direction of help.

This is why The Lost City was coming that we supported in our first three months, why we are supporting Construction Sport now, why we are proud to have Tominays collab raising funds for Lighthouse – our industry matter and we all do as individuals as well.

Try your best not to be afraid to speak up, life is hard and it can habitually kick you in the nuts from time to time – but you’ll never be a burden for sharing your concerns or worries – once they are either typed or spoken – they can then be addressed

Look after yourselves, all of you.”

 

Tool Theft

“Having been on the tool theft rallies and also having the honour of being able to call Frankie from Stolen Tools UK a friend – it is an absolute scourge. My van has been attempted once but it’s typically empty. Tradespeople having to sleep with one eye open is a sham and a complete failure of multiple governments in our company.

But for now I can see a small light of hope, we have some fantastic people within the MET who care about trades people and want to end this, it won’t happen overnight, but we all need to stand together shoulder to shoulder with the likes of the gas expert and SB multitrade as they do the front facing media work on behalf of all of us.

Also marking your tools with forensic marking is so important – it may not stop your tools being stolen but can lead to convictions and also you getting your tools back – examples of this are selectaDNA and DATAtag

Personally I am also a massive fan of Mundy van Security – Graham is a great guy. The benefit of his system vs traditional locks is that you can leave you load bay open – so no more damaged doors – it isn’t that expensive either.

Just as a heads up, we are paid or in collaboration with any of those brands – we remain fully independent to all the paid partnership mumbo jumbo – these are things that I like personally”

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Questions from The Pack

Richard Cockerline: “Worst and best bits of running the brand?”

“The best part is two-fold, firstly I am so fortunate to be doing this with one of my best friends, someone whom I respect and admire by the bucket load – I know I have a tendency to take the mick out of J1, but my life would be vert different without them in it. Secondly is all of you guys, honestly when we started the idea that 5 months in we would have 850 odd followers on Instagram and be chatting to a lot of you on a daily basis.

The worst bit, honestly is the time. We didn’t realise how full on this would be at times and as we’ve spoken about before, like most of you reading this we run our own businesses away from this. So Jackal was always going to be a part time – hop in and hop out kind of deal, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Not complaining, but neither of us factored this in”

 

Quality Brushstokes: “What’s the plans for the next 12 month, will we see a Christmas Jackal Collection?”

“That’s down to you guys, I had a belting idea for Halloween but J1 made the valid point that Disney would probably sue us – just use the term Jackal and link it do someone in one of their films called Jack and you could put it together.

I’d be keen for a Christmas Jackal collection, what about the rest of you? If you want one we need to start working on it soon.

But the rest of the 12 months? To be honest we will continue to wing it all on a daily basis and learn with all of you – we will be looking into other markets abroad as we have been asked just struggling with the shipping element of it”

 

Karl Sparky: “What’s your favourite band?”

“Depends on what mood I’m in to be honest, older bands; Sum41, Blink, AAF, Feeder, Hard-Fi and loads of others – the last couple of years a massive Theory of a Deadman fan.

Away from rock vibes I am massively into country music so Luke Coombs and Morgan Wallen”

 

Conclusion

J2 shows what Pack Mentality is all about: building something meaningful with friends, staying open about struggles, and lifting the industry one honest conversation at a time. From mental health advocacy and tool theft action, to supporting projects and sharing advice, Jackal is here for every member—so don’t hesitate to reach out, connect, and look after each other.