Tintinfellow | Campbell's of Beauly

A man wearing a patterned sweater vest and blue jeans uses garden shears to trim a bush. He stands outdoors near a metal ladder, with houses visible in the background.

Tintinfellow

Few wear Campbell’s quite like Michael Hallinger, known to many as Tintinfellow. A long-time friend of the brand, his playful take on traditional style always turns heads.

Welcome to Campbell’s Clientele—a series celebrating the people who inspire us. Friends of the brand who live, work and explore with the same love for craftsmanship, tradition and community that we hold dear. Discover all stories here.

Tell us a bit about the Hallinger family. Where did you grow up?

I was born in Denmark, near Copenhagen, and grew up there. My late father was Danish, and he met my English mother in London in the 1960s. I’ve always had a close connection to England through my mother’s side of the family and would regularly visit, especially London and Hampshire. When I was 25, I moved to a small village in Hampshire, where I’ve lived ever since, though I return to Denmark at least once a year. I love both countries equally!

How did your career path lead to gardening?

When I first moved to England, I was at a bit of a loose end and decided to visit an open day at Sparsholt, a local agricultural college. I toured the different departments and, after briefly considering fishery, chose horticulture—and I’ve been working in that field ever since. I also met my wife there, so it turned out to be a wise decision!

A man in an orange sweater sits on a wooden ladder in front of shelves filled with neatly stacked rolls of plaid and solid-colored fabric in various shades of green and brown.

When did you first become interested in menswear?

As a child, I wasn’t particularly interested in clothes and wore whatever my mother picked out for me. But around the age of 14 or 15, I started developing my own style. One of my first conscious style choices was buying a pair of shiny patent leather (plastic!) shoes, which I wore with great pride—and they even feature in a school photo.

A man with brown hair and a beard, wearing a brown blazer and mustard sweater, stands in front of a wall covered with framed art and illustrations.

A man stands in front of shelves filled with neatly folded sweaters in various colors, holding and examining a yellow sweater. The setting appears to be a clothing store.

You seem to enjoy both formalwear and casualwear—especially tweed?

Absolutely! I’ve always had an eclectic taste when it comes to style. Back in college, I’d wear baggy jeans, a Stone Roses T-shirt, and beads one day, then a tweed jacket and tie the next. My inspiration has come from all sorts of places, from indie band photos to classic Hollywood icons—I’m a sartorial magpie! I’ve always loved tweed. It’s such a classic British cloth—warm, hard-wearing, versatile, and it improves with age (as long as the moths don’t get to it!). There’s even a photo of me at around 20 years old wearing a houndstooth tweed jacket, tie, and mustard waistcoat, which was definitely eccentric in early ’90s Denmark! Now, I have a growing collection of tweed jackets in all kinds of patterns and weights. Sometimes I pair them with jeans and knitwear, other times with a tie, pocket square, and waistcoat—it all depends on the occasion and my mood.

What do you love about Scottish knitwear?

Like tweed, Scottish knitwear is a timeless classic that never goes out of style. I appreciate the long heritage of the industry and its connection to the land. It’s durable, warm, locally produced, and comes in so many colours and patterns—what’s not to love?

You’ve got a lot of followers on Instagram! How did that happen?

Honestly, I have no idea! I started my Tintin Fellow account nearly 10 years ago, and the follower count has grown slowly but steadily. I think people might appreciate that I come across as a “real” person with a sense of humour and a bit of style who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

What are your hobbies?

Besides menswear (which could be considered both a hobby and an interest), I enjoy watching science fiction films and series, reading about military history, listening to music (whether streaming on the go or vinyl at home)… and building the occasional Lego set.

Tell us about your love of Land Rovers.

I’ve loved classic Series and Defender Land Rovers for as long as I can remember. Some of my favourite childhood toys were the Action Man Land Rover Lightweight and a 1:32 scale Britains army Series III (which I still have). Along with the Second World War Jeep, they’re the quintessential rugged off-road vehicles. Land Rovers have been used by farmers, explorers, and the military around the world, offering the promise of adventure—even if it’s just pottering around country lanes, as I do in Olive, my 1986 Land Rover 90. Landies epitomise British engineering: innovative, full of character… and prone to rust and mechanical quirks! Yet we still love them because there’s nothing else quite like them.

You recently visited Japan. What do you love about the country?

My wife is Japanese, and I first visited Japan in 2000. I was instantly blown away. Japan is a wonderful blend of the ancient and the modern, where old traditions and cutting-edge technology coexist harmoniously. The people are incredibly friendly, helpful, and polite, and one always feels safe. The service is impeccable. The variety and quality of the food are outstanding, from humble noodles to Kobe beef. I also admire the Japanese attention to detail—they put immense effort into making the best products possible, whether it’s clothes, gardening tools, or trains. And I’m a big fan of their beer. Kanpai!