The Mad Cowes brand culture evolved as an après sailing brand during Cowes Week back in 1997. That summer three Newcastle post grad students, James Haxton, PJ Scott and Ed Bruce-White came to Cowes and sold T shirts and other clothing emblazoned with ‘Mad Cowes’. Following the success of Cowes Week, they shortly acquired a shop on the High Street, which also operated as the company’s HQ.

Things have changed slightly since then. James Haxton went on to run Mad Cowes and moved up to Yorkshire.The shop in Cowes was sold and Mad Cowes continued to retail online and at events and shows throughout the UK. Shortly after Lucy Ward joined the business and took over running the Mad Cowes show unit and website.

Mad Cowes moved again into the heart of the Derbyshire Dales Countryside.