Montirex founders receive honorary doctorates from Edge Hill University

The founders of the multi-million-pound apparel brand Montirex are set to receive honorary doctorates, celebrating their exceptional impact on business, enterprise, and local communities.

The Liverpool-based sportswear label was co-founded in 2019 by Daniel Yuen and Edge Hill alumnus Kieran Riddell-Austin. The duo will be presented with Honorary Doctorates of Business Administration during the university’s summer graduation ceremonies, where roughly 4,000 students will mark the completion of their degrees.

Reflecting on the recognition, Daniel Yuen remarked:

“A huge thank you to Edge Hill for this incredible honour. Our journey has been built on hard work, grit and determination, but we certainly didn’t get here alone. It is truly humbling to know that our story could inspire the next generation of students to follow their own dreams.”

Montirex evolved from humble beginnings in Kieran’s family kitchen to become a nationwide phenomenon, fueled by a determination to redefine contemporary sportswear. Originally launching with a line of just three t-shirts, the brand has earned widespread acclaim for delivering premium, fashionable, and accessible apparel. Today, the enterprise is headquartered in a 52,000 sq ft facility in Speke, Liverpool, and provides employment to over 100 people in the local area.

By securing high-profile, exclusive retail partnerships with JD Sports, Footasylum, and ASOS, Daniel and Kieran successfully elevated the brand to both national and global prominence. Their rapid ascent was further highlighted in 2024 when they secured positions on the esteemed Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list for Retail and E-Commerce.

The accolade holds profound personal meaning for Kieran as a former student of the institution. His trajectory from undergraduate to thriving entrepreneur embodies Edge Hill’s core values of ambition, innovation, and determination, offering tangible inspiration to current students and alumni alike.

Kieran shared:

“My time at Edge Hill University played an important role in shaping both my personal growth and entrepreneurial mindset. Although I ultimately chose a different path from the one I originally planned, the experience gave me the confidence, resilience and ambition to pursue my own vision.”

The announcement of the award aligns with the May 27 launch of The Montirex Foundation, the company’s newly established charitable arm. This initiative is dedicated to community investment, aiming to empower young people across the UK by enhancing physical and mental wellbeing, boosting grassroots sports, and funding regional development projects.

Professor Kurt Allman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Edge Hill University, commented:

“Daniel and Kieran have built an extraordinary success story through innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Their journey from ambitious young entrepreneurs to leaders of one of the UK’s fastest-growing sportswear brands is truly inspiring.

“Kieran’s achievements as an Edge Hill graduate demonstrate the transformative power of education, while both Daniel and Kieran exemplify the importance of community, civic responsibility and giving back, which the University seeks to nurture. We are proud to recognise their exceptional accomplishments with these Honorary Doctorate awards.”

Since establishing Montirex, the co-founders have emerged as significant role models for future business leaders, particularly within working-class communities throughout the North West. Their dedication to their origins has been actively demonstrated through charitable efforts, including donating to and championing the public fundraising campaign to protect Liverpool’s Zoe’s Place baby hospice from closure.

Through their continued leadership, the pair remain dedicated to fostering innovation, regional pride, and economic opportunity, serving as a beacon for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Find out more about Montirex Foundation here.

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