An Old Street pop-up is harnessing Tech City’s love of facial hair in an attempt to revive the age-old traditions behind shaving.

Stubble and Strife, set up just under a year ago, has been turning heads in the station with its male grooming products for gents with bearded, moustached and even bare faces.

And Parveen Dhanda, who founded the business with her husband Rav Roopra in Greenwich Market, says the popularity of the beard could help revive a lost art.

“What’s really surprised me is the nostalgic value,” said Parveen, 38. “People will come up and see a double-edged razor and say ‘this reminds me of my grandad’.

“Before the 70s when companies like Gillette took the skill out of shaving there was a tradition that men would teach their sons how to shave, it had been going on for centuries.

“The art of shaving has been lost.”

But according to recent figures, the facial hair comeback and taboo-busting attitudes towards male grooming are starting to take their toll on a convenience shaving industry which has allowed men to deny their facial follicles for the last 40 years.

More men are embracing beards and moustaches in their varied forms or just taking better care of their face. Facial hair is no longer just for revolutionaries and Stubble and Strife are hoping to lead the revolution.

Grooming

“It’s not just about beards,” says Parveen, “more and more guys are into grooming now and we cater for everyone.

“But so many people do have beards here, it’s become a big thing in the city now because it’s OK to have a beard at work again.

“But for that reason people need to be able to look after their beard and maintain it.”

Products at the stall range from beard oils and shaving soaps with scents of cedarwood to cut-throat razors and badger brushes that they say can last a decade.

And for those about to take on the increasingly popular Movember, stubble and strife also sell a variety of moustache combs and beard brushes.

“We are showcasing the best of British with brands like Captain Fawcetts and Kent Brushes which are both over 100 years old.

“We want to be a one stop shop for male grooming products. We get a lot of women talking to us as well, men are so hard to buy for – they usually end up with cufflinks, socks or a tie.

“So many of our products make great presents.”

The facial hair franchise is even co-hosting a Movember party to help raise money for testicular cancer and are backing its recently conceived brother, Decembeard, set to raise awareness for bowel cancer.

Stubble and Strife will be at Old Street until the end of November and are currently looking for a permanent base, possible in the Shoreditch area.

n To find out more go to stubbleandstrife.com.