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Always Forward

@alwaysforwardbrand

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Activewear that Makes a Stand for Mental Health 🐺
Athleticism and Adventure through Adversity 🌊
Become Part of the Movement 🏔️
UK Based 🇬🇧

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

32

9

a month ago

WHERE ALWAYS FORWARD STARTED 🐺 taken in United Kingdom by @alwaysforwardbrand

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21

2 months ago

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11

2 months ago

ALWAYS FORWARD BLUE CAMPAIGN 💙

Following our launch of the BLUE CAMPAIGN yesterday I decided to create an accompanying reel to make that easy to share the Always Forward Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative.

There have been moments, even more so across the last couple of years, that I felt I couldn’t type the words to say to someone the way I felt, or that I was really up against everything.

And moments when someone had reached out, sent me a heartfelt message, or even asked ‘Are you ok mate?’

I have read that, and I truly appreciated the message more than they could ever know. But I have been so emotionally exhausted that I haven’t had the capacity to respond.

Not because I don’t care, as that couldn’t be further from the truth.

And the longer you leave that message unanswered, the more the guilt builds.

That’s why I have created the Blue Campaign.

One basic concept. Two crucial purposes.

💙 SEND A BLUE HEART
When you are up against everything, feeling low, or desperately need someone, but can’t type the words to ask for help.

💙 REPLY WITH A BLUE HEART
When someone messages you and you want them to know you have seen the message, you’re struggling, but you appreciate them, even though you don’t have the capacity to explain.

If you receive a blue heart?

Reach out. Check on them. And make sure when they talk to you hear what they have to say.

Suggest a call, catching up for a coffee or a walk, or ask whether they want some company.

You don’t have to have all the answers or repair everything. Sometimes, someone that’s there for them can make a difference.

The campaign was designed to continue encouraging mental health awareness, real connection, starting conversations and suicide prevention.

A blue heart would never be a replacement for professional or crisis support.

Now, I need ALL your help to ensure that message has meaning.

Share the campaign with your friends, family and loved ones. Agree on what 💙 means between you and how you’ll respond when someone sends one.

Because sometimes, a small act of connection can mean more than a thousand words.

WHEN WORDS FEEL IMPOSSIBLE.
SEND A 💙

YOU ARE taken in United Kingdom by @alwaysforwardbrand

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1

4 days ago

🐺 taken in United Kingdom by @alwaysforwardbrand

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5

8 days ago

COLOUR RUSH 🤙🏼

For those that are new here or haven’t seen previously, every so often we do what we call Colour Rush (any NFL fans may remember that from several years back 😉)

Colour Rush allows you to get an Always Forward hoody of another colour from our standard black and grey, so that you can carry the message your way!

For October I have decided to relaunch Colour Rush for the entire month to draw some colour to those dark days across autumn 🍂

If you want one message me to ask for your chosen colour and we can get your new hoody ordered!

There’s some examples on the post of the colours we have done previously, even a royal blue that I made for my boy, but there are also many more to choose from!

COLOURS - PINK, LILAC, NAVY, ROYAL BLUE, TEAL, EARTHY AND DARK GREEN, STONE, ESPRESSO, CHARCOAL, RED, ASH, AND AIRFORCE BLUE

DESIGNS - ALWAYS FORWARD, THEN THE WOLF (LEAD THE PACK), LION (CHALLENGE YOUR PRIDE) AND TIGER (HEAR MY ROAR) FROM THE APEX RANGE AND ALL OF THE LEGACY RANGE DESIGNS

Carry the message your way, and stand out to start those conversations!

Of course there’s always black for those who have been waiting all year for the season of the black hoody to return 😏

‘Wear black, drink coffee, lift heavy, play metal’ 😉

But for those that want some colour make sure to get your Always Forward hoody now before the Colour Rush ends!

ALWAYS FORWARD 🐺

#alwaysforward #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #hoodyseason #winteriscoming taken in United Kingdom by @alwaysforwardbrand

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16

10 days ago

LESSONS FROM LEGENDS
SIGRDRÍFUMÁL 🪽

The meaning behind our VALKYRIE design was never only about being strong.

It was about what we choose to do with that strength.

In Sigrdrífumál, Sigrdrífa is a Valkyrie who defies Odin’s chosen outcome in battle and suffers the consequences.

When she later awakens, Sigurd asks her to teach him wisdom.

And she does.

She shares what she knows of victory, protection, healing, speech and wisdom, before teaching him about integrity, restraint and how we choose to treat others.

That’s where the meaning behind VALKYRIE comes from.

TRUE STRENGTH DOES NOT NEED TO DIMINISH SOMEONE ELSE.

We can be confident without needing to stand above others.

We can be strong without making somebody else feel weak.

We can lead, support, encourage and share what we have learned without taking anything away from ourselves.

The lesson was never that strength is about proving that we are better than somebody else.

It’s that power is not diminished when we use it to empower others.

STAND BESIDE OTHERS. NOT ABOVE THEM.

Know your worth.

Stand by your values.

Use your voice when it matters.

And when you have the opportunity to help somebody else recognise their own strength, do it.

Because strength is not only found in what we can overcome.

Sometimes it is found in what we can provide to others.

We can’t change the stories that came before us.

But we can learn from them.

We can carry those lessons forward into our own challenges, our own aspirations and the way we choose to live our own lives.

REFLECT BACK. MOVE FORWARD.

CARRY THE LEGACY

ALWAYS FORWARD 🪽

#alwaysforward #mentalhealth #empowerment #valkyrie #leavealegacy taken in United Kingdom by @alwaysforwardbrand

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3

18 hours ago

LESSONS FROM LEGENDS
THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS 🥋

The meaning behind our SAMURAI design was never truly about the warrior alone.

It was about the discipline, perception and control that stand behind the sword.

Miyamoto Musashi wrote The Book of Five Rings after a lifetime devoted to strategy, training and understanding not only how to overcome an opponent, but how to master himself.

The teachings he shares return to the same thoughts and concepts.

See beyond what’s immediately in front of you.

Remain calm when pressure rises.

Adapt when there’s change.

Train until what once required thought becomes part of who you are.

And keep becoming better than the person you were yesterday.

That’s where the meaning behind SAMURAI comes from.

REFLECT BACK. MOVE FORWARD.

CARRY THE LEGACY

ALWAYS FORWARD🥋

Ambassadors @elevatewithjustine @cat_tupling and @the_gottfather 🥋
Photography @framesbyluke_ 📸

#alwaysforward #mentalhealth #samurai #gymwear #discipline taken in United Kingdom by @alwaysforwardbrand

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12 days ago

LESSONS FROM LEGENDS VÖLUSPÁ 🐺

The meaning behind our VALHALLA design was never truly regards battle.

It was what happens when the wolves are already at the door.

In Völuspá Ragnarok is foretold. Fenrir breaks free. The world begins to fall apart. Odin goes to face the wolf. Thor confronts the world serpent. The old world falls.

And yet the poem does not end there.

After the sun turns black and the earth sinks beneath the sea, the seeress sees it rise again green once more.

That’s where the meaning behind VALHALLA comes from.

THE WOLVES ARE ALWAYS NEAR.

There will always be adversity. Doubt. Setbacks. Loss. People who want to see us fall. Circumstances we never chose and outcomes we cannot completely control.

The lesson was never not that we would always succeed.

It’s that victory does not have to be guaranteed for courage to matter.

STAND UNTIL THE LAST DAWN.

Stand when the outcome is uncertain.
Stand when everything around you changes.
Stand when the wolves are at the door.

And when one chapter of your life comes to an end, remember what follows Ragnarok in Völuspá.

The earth rises again.

We can’t change the stories that came before us.

But we can learn from them.

We can carry those lessons forward into our own challenges, our own aspirations and the way we choose to live our own lives.

REFLECT BACK. MOVE FORWARD.

CARRY THE LEGACY

ALWAYS FORWARD 🐺

Disclaimer - created the post myself on Canva so unsure why that’s decided my post was AI created.

Ambassadors @jakejamesfitness and myself @alphaonecoaching 🐺
Photography @framesbyluke_ 📸

#alwaysforward #norse #mentalhealth #vahalla wolves taken in United Kingdom by @alwaysforwardbrand

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19 days ago

LESSONS FROM LEGENDS ⚔️

The Legacy Range was never created only for the designs to look cool on our clothing.

Every design was to carry a message.

A story.
A philosophy.
A teaching.
A lesson that has passed down through the ages.

And I don’t feel I ever done enough to explain the reasons why behind the Legacy Range.

So every week we’ll delve deeper through each design.

Back to the story or text that inspired the design, what each one actually teach us, and what we can carry forward through our own story.

Courage, Resilience, Purpose, Friendship, Anger, Mortality, Discipline, and Belonging.

The successes, the failures and the complexities.

Because we can learn from all of that.

Learn the lessons from legends to carry them forward and leave your own legacy 🔥

ALWAYS FORWARD 🐺

#alwaysforward #mentalhealth #gymwear #leavealegacy #reflection by @alwaysforwardbrand

32

6

a month ago

ALWAYS FORWARD BLUE CAMPAIGN 💙

Today we launch the BLUE CAMPAIGN an Always Forward Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative.

There have been moments, even more so across the last couple of years, that I felt I couldn’t type the words to say to someone the way I felt, or that I was really up against everything.

And moments when someone had reached out, sent me a heartfelt message, or even asked ‘Are you ok mate?’

I have read that, and I truly appreciated the message more than they could ever know. But I have been so emotionally exhausted that I haven’t had the capacity to respond.

Not because I don’t care, as that couldn’t be further from the truth.

And the longer you leave that message unanswered, the more the guilt builds.

That’s why I have created the Blue Campaign.

One basic concept. Two crucial purposes.

💙 SEND A BLUE HEART
When you are up against everything, feeling low, or desperately need someone, but can’t type the words to ask for help.

💙 REPLY WITH A BLUE HEART
When someone messages you and you want them to know you have seen the message, you’re struggling, but you appreciate them, even though you don’t have the capacity to explain.

If you receive a blue heart?

Reach out. Check on them. And make sure when they talk to you hear what they have to say.

Suggest a call, catching up for a coffee or a walk, or ask whether they want some company.

You don’t have to have all the answers or repair everything. Sometimes, someone that’s there for them can make a difference.

The campaign was designed to continue encouraging mental health awareness, real connection, starting conversations and suicide prevention.

A blue heart would never be a replacement for professional or crisis support.

Now, I need ALL your help to ensure that message has meaning.

Share the campaign with your friends, family and loved ones. Agree on what 💙 means between you and how you’ll respond when someone sends one.

Because sometimes, a small act of connection can mean more than a thousand words.

WHEN WORDS FEEL IMPOSSIBLE.
SEND A 💙

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

ALWAYS FORWARD 🐺💙

@mindcharity @samaritanscharity @calmzone @rethinkmentalillness @broproject_cic taken in United Kingdom by @alwaysforwardbrand

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9

5 days ago

SUICIDE AWARENESS 🖤

As those that follow us would have seen from the amazing reels some of our ambassadors shared, September was Suicide Awareness Month, but regards of the day or month that awareness needs to stay true as many continue to be up against those challenges or those thoughts, so make sure we continue to be there for those around us, and for those that are the ones up against that, you are not alone, you are loved, and there’s support available.

I have battled those thoughts myself and I am aware that through those moments you can’t always see for yourself that there’s hope, or a way forward, but use the last of what you have to reach your hand and ask for help, make that call or start that conversation! Whether that’s a friend or family member, or even a support line, there’s those that want you to stay 💙

Whatever day or month
Whatever you’re up against or have been through
Whatever happens or has happened
I understand, but hear me when I say
You have the strength to move forward
and I truly hope you stay

If you need support

@samaritanscharity call 24/7 116 123

@mindcharity call between 0900-1800 0300 102 1234

@calmzone call between 1700-Midnight 0800 58 58 58

And for support groups
@mandowncic @andysmanclubuk @thelucyraynerfoundation @menwalkingandtalking

There are many more that you can search for local to you

STAY STRONG, STAY HERE
ALWAYS FORWARD 💙

Across the UK (2024)
There were 7,184 suicides

599 a month
138 a week
20 a day

ONE LIFE EVERY 73 MINUTES

Almost 3 out of every 4 were men

5,347 MEN
446 A MONTH
103 A WEEK
15 A DAY

ONE MAN EVERY 98 MINUTES

Around 74% of the UK total

#alwaysforward #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #strongertogether #strengthincommunity taken in Hawley, Hampshire by @alwaysforwardbrand

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6

17 days ago