From the time spent building a portfolio, Pike developed his own personal method for designing which involves submerging himself in an appropriate environment. "When I've got a project or a collection to design, I give myself a third of the time to go out and try and find an environment I am comfortable with - a pub, a sports event - whatever. I watch everything and try and work out what works and what doesn't. I go by what I consider aesthetically pleasing, build up an atmosphere, build a client in my head". Then he sketches in "the environment best suited - which for the last two years have been in a pub."

"I sketch things I think evoke the atmosphere: flocked paper rubbings, sketches of the shapes and labels on bar towels... Sports becomes important in that, dirty old interiors mixed with atmosphere of big glam boxing events seems like an odd match - I like looking at things that shouldn't really make any sense and putting them together."

Tom Pike has landed a job working for Levi's four days a week. The other working day will be dedicated to building up his own business. He is very aware that he has a lot to learn, especially about production, "Nearly all fashion colleges neglect manufacturing," he asserts. "They don't teach you what to do if you want to set up your own business." So while Pike is not looking to launch an international menswear label just yet, he is going to continue designing and making clothes in small runs. There's a customised and printed denim jeans line plus a range of T-shirts in the offing.

More good things are bound to come from pub designer Tom Pike. If you spot him in a bar, buy him a glass of red wine or a pint of Stella and then let him get on with the job of designing the next collection.