5 mins
THE INDUSTRY’S FINEST
Barber of the Year winning entry and Barber of the Year, Rhys Whitehouse
The Professional Barber World Series with Dapper Dan returned for its second year with the goal of celebrating excellence within the global barbering industry. The familiar Barber of The Year (this issue’s Modern Barber cover star) and International Barber of The Year categories returned, alongside a new, highly demanded Barbershop of The Year category.
The competition’s judging panel was made up of industry heavyweights including Simon May, Mike Taylor, Sid Sottung, Colin Petrie and the ‘2021 Barber of The Year’ Dean Gleeson. This year the competition was certainly not short of prizes with a sponsorship line up including Dapper Dan, Barber Blades, Nearcut, Matakki Scissors, Sid Sottung Academy and Denman meaning there was even more up for grabs alongside the glory, including a spot on the cover of Modern Barber.
From the moment the entries opened, the competition was flooded with unique submissions from barbers across every corner of the globe, which made the judging process a mammoth-sized task. When speaking about the quality of this year’s entries judge Mike Taylor said “The standard of barbering and innovation was so high that it made me think the next time I enter a competition my own work needs to step up to another level.” Once the dust had settled on the judging process, the title of International Barber of the Year was claimed by Dmitriy Shumylo and Barbershop of The Year was won by Kendrick’s of Rochford.
International Barber of the Year winning entry,
In the International Barber of The Year category, Dmitriy’s entry stood out in every aspect including technical execution, creativity, originality and photographic proficiency. Going further than just a haircut, Dmitriy showed us his creative vision for barbering with his standout style. When it comes to the inspiration behind his entry, Dmitriy stated that he takes a lot of creative inspiration from Japanese Culture and Anime which shines through the stylisation of his entry. This wasn’t Dmitriy’s first time entering the World Series, he made it all the way to the finalist stage last year with another exceptionally creative entry. This year however, he displayed even more impressive technical execution and artistry which saw him take the title in an incredibly diverse and competitive category.
In the highly anticipated Barbershop of The Year category, Kendrick’s of Rochford took home this year’s award. It was no surprise that they scored highly against the judges’ criteria with their impressive decor, reviews, and quality of work, not to mention the fantastic photography of the shop. Kendrick’s entry made it clear to the judges how great the barbershop experience they offer their clients is. On the success of the Barbershop of the Year category, head judge Simon May explained “It was fantastic to see so much variation in barbershop styles, from traditional, minimal, modern, and everything in between, all providing something truly unique and showing the diversity behind superb barbershops across the UK.”
Now is the perfect time to start looking to 2023, hone your craft and push yourself before next year’s event, with the competition for top spot getting fiercer every year!
The team at Kendrick’s of Rochford,
BARBER OF THE YEAR
WE CHAT TO OUR MODERN BARBER COVER STAR AND PROFESSIONAL BARBER WORLD SERIES BARBER OF THE YEAR
This year saw rising star Rhys Whitehouse edge out the competition to be crowned 2022 Barber of The Year. To better understand how he got here we spoke with Rhys about the competition, the industry and his creative process.
The creative process behind preparing for a barbering competition is unique and this is no exception with Rhys who told us: “A large part of the creativity behind my work is found in the framing of an image through photography, not just the haircut. When it comes to finding inspiration, it comes in many forms, be it the model’s own ideas, their aesthetic, or a styling technique I’ve seen online or at a show.”
Rhys has been making waves within the industry, winning multiple awards in recent years and consistently placing highly with his creative entries. We asked Rhys what was the biggest benefit entering competitions like the Professional Barber World Series, he explains: “There’s a real thrill in working towards an immediate goal of winning a competition, since it has a clear start and finish. Like all of us, recognition from our industry peers is also one of the best things to come from winning prestigious competitions. But for me the biggest benefits are those that you don’t normally see, such as the opportunities that come with winning and the doors that are opened. This industry and the companies at its heart seek integrity, barbers who are the hardest workers in the room, devoted to what they do, who are unashamedly themselves, stand for something and most importantly, are present and consistent. Winning competitions gives you the spotlight to showcase these traits.”
It’s no secret that competitions require precision and creativity to stand out from a talented crowd, with barbers in the industry continuously pushing standards higher. For many, challenge and competition are a source of motivation to improve. “Competition drives me to be more of an accurate and meticulous barber. I’m always examining the quality of my cuts and photographic entries,” says Rhys, adding: “Being more creative depends on the people you surround yourself with. An encouraging and engaging circle can be the supportive environment perfect for growth and creativity.”
Rhys is looking forward to doing more projects with the brands he represents as well as keeping a focus on his personal life, explaining: “I’m very excited to be seeing 2023 in as a representative for both Wahl and Matakki. As far as achievements go, I’ve only been barbering for seven years, but I have been very intense as far as pushing for my career goals which I seem to have achieved in that time. I have recently become a first-time dad and I’m currently planning a wedding so they will take up more of my focus - although I have a habit of sniffing out opportunities and challenges so who knows what is yet to be achieved!”
