With just days to go until the doors open to the eleventh edition of premium menswear tradeshow Jacket Required – buyers and members of the press prepare to join a selection of the very best collections in the modern men’s market at our appointed destination – The Old Truman Brewery, East London.
With a complete compilation of apparel, footwear, accessories and lifestyle labels from across the globe ready to present their collections for spring/summer 2017 - today, the team at Jacket Required highlight just a few that will meet you there...
Wood Wood
Much more than a brand – Wood Wood is about style and attitude. Launched in 2002, and based in Copenhagen, Denmark – the sub-cultural founded lifestyle label mixes high fashion, sport and streetwear with youth culture, art and music to create the best possible balance between form and function. Focusing on well-made classics with a twist, Wood Wood’s offering of contemporary streetwear looks beyond fashion to make its mark by combining strong sports components with the ability to move up and down the fashion spectrum. With each collection composed of two segments – Street Basics and Contemporary Fashion – together they form a look which allows the wearer to mix, match or shift, depending on mood or occasion.
Combining fashion conscious Scandinavian sophistication with its urban roots, influenced by graffiti and street culture in the 90s – for spring/summer 2017 Wood Wood continues to build upon new takes on iconic silhouettes with a sports-fashion approach. In an unpretentious manner, it mixes elements of underground and high-end into its own exciting aesthetic while staying true to the heritage of the brand.
Pairs in Paris
The story begins with a happy encounter between Caroline Robert – Parisian fashion house accessory designer who later trained with a shoemaker, learning to how to craft made to measure shoes, and Antonin Waterkeyn – graphic designer and rare sneaker collector. A union of street and style – Pairs in Paris was born.
Designed in Paris, made in Portugal – the label offers high-end leather unisex trainers, with the same attention to detail usually just found in crafting tailored shoes. A thoughtful collection for city-dwellers sensitive to style and well-being – the label is already stocked in prestigious stores including Le Printemps, Galeries Lafayette and Baycrews. Combining technical materials with premium leathers sourced from tanneries in Italy, France and Portugal – attention to detail is key. Styles featuring design elements such as premium cotton laces, natural calfskin leather lining and translucent natural rubber soles exemplify a subtle mix of urban sneaker-style and traditional craft that defines the Pairs in Paris philosophy.
Didriksons
Simply put – Didriksons have learned a lot since it’s been in the business, and for over 100 years, it’s remained true to its basic principles. Established in 1913, the Swedish heritage label knows you cannot predict the weather, so instead – rather than challenging the elements, it adopts them. Which is why, very wisely, for spring/summer 2017 the brand continues to specialise in stylish, performance outerwear, offering functional items for every rainy day.
That said, the label does try to predict upcoming trends – selecting Retro Sport as its main theme for the rainy summer season ahead. Didriksons’ latest modern collection is inspired by the past – with colours, cuts, styles, features and details synonymous with the 60s and 70s – confidently merging the best in modern style with function, so you can stay dry, be happy and feel good.
Wild Bunch
This season at Jacket Required, the team at Brand Progression bring you a wild card for spring/summer 2017 – with new purist, premium footwear brand Wild Bunch.
Presenting three key styles, the MST 6 boot, MST 5 classic and the MST 4 – the classic with an added feature seam – the capsule collection boasts premium suede uppers in khaki, beige, brown, biscuit, black and grey colour options across all designs. Each piece of footwear also features natural crepe soles, double stitched leather welting and pigskin lining. Already picked up by Union Los Angeles, the Californian boutique with a preference for Japanese and European garments; and renowned East London menswear outfitter Present – available in store and on-line from August – this brand is definitely one to watch, for those in search of something a little bit different.
M.R.K.T
Los Angeles based accessories label M.R.K.T reflects the thriving urban streets of the world – where creativity radiates, unconventional ideas are tested and individuality inspires. Founded in 2010 by Harvard-trained architect, Tom Pen as he set out to challenge conventional fashion trends – designs are influenced by modern architectural concepts of clean and pure form, inspired by the urban streets of Los Angeles, concrete buildings and abstract architecture, all to celebrate life in the city.
Choosing textiles which ensure it stands out – M.R.K.T use top-quality synthetic leathers and recyclable felt fabrics, which allow the brand to create interesting, clean, minimal shapes. Add to that the inclusion of bold colour juxtaposition, the collection of bags and accessories – from wallets to weekenders, with ultra-functional interiors – is interesting and innovative, while affordable and accessible. Structure, function, material innovation and geometry are its guides, as the brand pushes the boundaries of design in every bag it creates.
Mr C
Born from a desire to create a smart, easy to wear swim short without compromising style, fit or practicality – Mr C London Swimwear shorts bridge the gap between classic and contemporary – designed to be worn both in and out the water and equally as comfortable with a shirt at the bar or submerged in the pool. Made in a small, state of the art factory in London from its in-house developed 14 piece pattern – the brand’s flagship short the ‘Savile’ is the result of 18 months of design and development – possessing design qualities which combine the cut of a dress short, with swim short construction.
For spring/summer 2017, the label draws inspiration from predators of the animal kingdom, with a principally pastel palette, masculine geometric print styles feature prominently, while layering adds depth and texture to the collection. Shorts to be worn for your most memorable adventures – prints offer the perfect balance of the confidently courageous to the playfully discreet – a true collection for all sun kissed adventures.