A former University of Salford student has launched a clothing brand to make a difference against homelessness.
Louis Grasier, owner and founder of Osedd Outdoors, has dreamt up a clothing company with a twist: for every garment bought, a high-quality thermal blanket will be given out to someone living on the streets.
Grasier attended the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University, doing fashion and construction courses.
On top of a desire to work in fashion, he has a passion for nature, having climbed Kilimanjaro and completed the West Highland Way walk last year.
A love for the outdoors and clothing, coupled with his entrepreneurial ambition and a desire to give back, is the inspiration behind Osedd.
Louis explained that Osedd is a purpose-driven business and highlighted that his dad “who always gave back” was his biggest inspiration to help the less fortunate.
We are a purpose-driven business”and it was his dad, “who always gave back” that influenced him to “help the less fortunate”.
Osedd launched in January and is set to do its first proof of concept drop on Sunday 15 March 2026, where two colourways for their garments will be revealed.
Stan For Creators, a platform designed for creators to sell digital products, has given Louis £10,000 to chase these dreams and support him in helping vulnerable people across the United Kingdom.
This financial support was a massive moment for Louis, saying it will help fund: “Development, production, manufacturing, marketing and making sure the products are at a high quality.”
Grasier is speaking with homelessness charities such as The Archer Project and The Salvation Army to distribute these blankets.
These thermal blankets insulate heat, guaranteeing an element of warmth to these unfortunate people.
Louis said: “I was originally going to do hats, and then I asked them in person and did some research and the most common answer was blankets”
“I can’t speak for loads of people, but it will help a person. When one person gets a blanket or extra layer of warmth, they know someone actually cares about them, which also helps,” said Louis.
According to Salford Media, “Homelessness cases increased from about 1,900 in 2021 to around 3,000 in 2023/24, meaning that one in every 126 residents in Salford was without a permenent home two years ago.
Having a company like Osedd on the streets could be the key to making a big impact on this evergrowing crisis in Salford and England.
