PHOTOS BY CARRIE ALLEN
Meet Tyler Hampton, the Tastemaker Behind Hampton’s
All family businesses have to start somewhere, and the story of Hampton’s inception is quite a unique one! The business is that of the mother and son team, Jan and Tyler Hampton, both of whom had little experience in retail. Tyler inspired the dream and passion, and, Jan, being the loving and supportive mother she is, invested in Tyler’s aspirations. Though their beginnings were humble, the desire to become the best they can be has never wavered.
Launched originally in downtown Davidson in 2014, Hampton’s opened in a small retail storefront owned by Tyler’s grandfather and Jan’s father, Dr. Donald Copeland on his 80th birthday! Being that Tyler was still a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the original focus was on a more preppy and collegiate clientele, but Tyler quickly recognized the need for a high-end men’s store in the Lake Norman area, and his vision became clear. Upon graduation in 2016, Tyler and his mother agreed that it was time for the store to graduate as well.
Now in the exclusive Langtree Village in Mooresville, Hampton’s has elevated from the preppy-collegiate style into the luxury market and offers tailored clothing with distinction. Hampton’s offers garments for nearly every occasion, ranging from upscale golf apparel to bespoke suits and coats to the finest cashmeres from Italy. Many of the collections displayed in the store come from smaller, family-owned lines throughout Europe. “Quality stems from the tradition of passion fueling the brands; no one cares about the product more than the person whose name is behind it, which reigns true for our store as well,” says Tyler. The move to high-end menswear filled a much-needed void in the lake area, and Hampton’s has developed a close following of happy repeat customers.
Tyler is not just one of the owners and operators, but also the person who decides what styles and brands the store selects to carry. Tyler’s style icon is Steve McQueen — one of the luminaries who inspired him to create a store with the tagline, “For the man who has everything, we have what he doesn’t.”
“My style pulls from several facets: traditional English, luxurious Italian, and classic American,” he said. “For example, nothing feels as great on the shoulders as Neapolitan tailoring in a suit or coat, but I like to add other details to my personal jackets, such as hacking (angled) pockets, a ticket pocket, and maybe just three functional buttons on the cuff instead of four, blending the Italian tailoring with more English and American inspired details.” I don’t do the same items every season, and I’m not afraid to take risks with brands and collections which may not yet have a US presence or even be known stateside,” Tyler said. “This season, I brought in an Italian cashmere line called Pashmere. One of my favorite pieces they have is a cashmere bomber jacket lined in beaver fur. It’s a beautiful piece you won’t see elsewhere- we have the only two in the United States.”
Whatever he chooses to bring into the store, Tyler said he first considers its style, with a focus less on trends and more on timeless pieces. “I always tell people to view menswear as an investment,” he said. “On many occasions, women may wear things once, whereas men continue wearing their clothes for years to come.” The menswear you’ll find in Hampton’s is unique, but not necessarily from the trendy world of high fashion.
Every independently owned store is in some way a reflection of its owners. Nowhere is that more evident than in the high-end men’s store, Hampton’s, which represents Tyler and Jan’s ideas, vision, and business savvy!
Indoor Golf: Next to Hampton’s
When visiting Hampton’s you’ll find The 19th Tee Lounge, an indoor golf facility right next door. It’s a comfortable lounge with a full bar and two golf simulators. Pay by the hour to swing your clubs at a vast variety of virtual courses, or become a member and join one of their leagues, all owned and run by Tyler and Jan.
