The Nugget: Gilbert Napier

Die-hard Warriors fan Gilbert Napier is a busy man, with a fair few balls in the air. By day he works as the manager of Herne Bay café, Five Loaves Eatery, keeping the patrons of one of Auckland’s most loved spots smiling, fed and caffeinated with his signature service philosophy of ‘Love everyone to death’. And, lest anyone suggest he’s resting on his laurels, Gilbert also co-owns the fledgling, brilliantly named Revenge Gin, which infuses, among other delicious natural ingredients, native botanicals like kawakawa and koheriki leaf to create a pretty awesome taste.

Both roles call for focus and attention to detail – which is what he also loves about 3 Wise Men’s huge range of gear. Well that, and our sense of colour (check out this 100% cotton Pink Lemonade shirt featured here) which those who know Gilbert, know he also possesses in spades. How colourful? Well he once lost his decades old, thigh-length dreadlocks after losing a bet for charity, and insists on wearing shorts to work all year round. Mind you, he believes every man should own at least one good suit for important occasions - the most important of which are reserved for regular dinners out with his lovely wife Misha. She admits to not recognising Gilbert when he turned up at home sporting our very well-cut Mandeville premium superfine merino Zegna Italian cloth suit. So for Misha and the rest of us, here are a few more details about Gilbert to get to know him a little better.