The People Behind Splitworks

Splitworks didn’t just appear out of thin air. It’s built on years of friendship, a shared obsession with vintage aesthetics, and a real respect for workwear that actually means something. Three people, a lot of history, and a brand built properly, with care.

Shane and Lance go back further than either of them would probably like to admit. Same school, same band, and over 13 years working side by side as photographer and designer. Shane’s spent more than 15 years behind the lens, but his eye wasn’t shaped in studios. It came from growing up in the countryside, surrounded by empty fields, cars, and motorbikes, and learning early on that if something breaks, you fix it. 

Most of his early memories involve handing over tools, bump starting old cars and bikes, and somehow knowing far too much about 70s and 80s Opels and Harleys for a kid his age. That connection to motor culture isn’t a look or a trend for him, it’s just part of who he is. You can see that running through everything Splitworks does.

Lance brings the same kind of honesty to the design side. He trained in the UK and has over 15 years of experience, but everything he does is rooted in something real. The Hogs Head, for example, didn’t come from a mood board. It came from his roots growing up on a pig farm in Ireland, where getting stuck in wasn’t optional. 

Niall’s story isn’t too far off either. Same county as the other two, but raised up in the mountains on a farm. There’s a bit of a pattern here. Growing up that way teaches you the value of things. You learn quickly that throwaway culture isn’t how you live when you rely on what you’ve got. Old machinery, proper tools, well made gear that lasts, it all matters.

The three of them met in Belfast and clicked straight away. Same taste, same interests, same way of looking at things. Niall found his place naturally. As a director and filmmaker, he’s the storyteller of the group, and after years of working together, him and Shane share a visual language that just works for both of them. 

Together, they’re drawn to the classics. Proper vintage American workwear, old cars, motorbikes, things that are built well and built to last.

Splitworks is the brand they always wanted to exist, so they built it. For themselves and for anyone else who sees things the same way. It’s always been a labour of love.

Splitworks philosophy is simple. 

Build it to last.