Good People, Good Places. Frontiers, Edinburgh.

The Good People in the Good Places that stock Universal Works across the globe.

Frontiers Man and Frontiers Woman are two neighbourhood stores that sit opposite each other on the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s West End, run by husband and wife Jane Forbes and Nigel Pashley. From the brands they stock to their in-store events, they focus on quality, authenticity and connecting with their community.

Jane opened Frontiers Woman in 1990, with a move to the West End in 2007 and Frontiers Man following (along with Nigel) in 2015. Both stores have stocked Universal Works in some capacity since then—they each curate their picks with their respective customers in mind, although they often see men and women shopping in both. Jane tells us, “It's less about rigid categories and more about personal expression. We see customers crossing between our two stores all the time, picking pieces that work for their style rather than their gender. Many of our brands lean into this fluidity—great style has no boundaries.”

That relaxed, welcoming feel is key, whether people are heading in to shop the new offerings or just popping in for a chat. Community comes first—from hosting events and working with local makers or championing brands that share their values. Like Nigel says, “It’s about creating a space where people feel welcome. There's no pressure. People can take their time, discover new brands and maybe try something different when they’re ready. It’s about making shopping feel easy, social and enjoyable, rather than a hard sell.”

Two people that are likely to agree with this are Jo and Jim, who wear their favourite Universal Works pieces for a shoot around the stores with the rest of Team Frontiers. Jo is a Welsh Interior Designer who arrived in Edinburgh via Mexico and the States who has shopped at Frontiers for the last 20 years, and Jim, a Head of Product, who has been a customer since the very beginning of Frontiers Man—nine years and counting. That’s loyalty.

Nigel sums it up perfectly; “It’s not just a job or business; we live and breathe it every day. It’s now not just Jane and Nigel, it’s the entire family, and when you run a business together, it becomes an extension of who you are. Customers can feel when something is built with passion and integrity, and we hope that's what sets Frontiers apart. We're lucky to be part of something that feels bigger than retail.”

Something bigger than retail. We really couldn’t have put it better ourselves.