This week celebrated the summer solstice, as the longest day of 2016 brought with it a rare strawberry moon, which after 17 hours of sunshine gave way to brightly moonlit skies.

As we pass the day that marks the ancient middle of summer, there is no time to hit the pause button – as we press play on the season ahead. With a raft of new and established collections joining together at London’s Old Truman Brewery for the next edition of Jacket Required, our participating brands look to the future – fast forward into spring/summer 2017.


Garbstore



London-based retailer Garbstore returns to Jacket Required with its private label and a new collection for spring/summer 2017, with the title and driving idea In the Absence of Conflict. 

Using familiar, though anachronistic reference points, the collection studies military wear removed from its original purpose. Original military colours and fabrics, vintage trims and treatments explore how clothing is treated and what is left behind when it’s domesticated. Creating pieces that range from near reproductions of vintage garments to those which hold the essence of a military idea or detail, the collection delivers modern adaptations of traditional styles, in keeping with its continued ethos to portray ‘unfamiliar vintage’ and ‘historically new’ garments that span the full spectrum of menswear.


ENLIST



London embodies freedom, self-expression and creativity, drawing people from all over the globe to shine. London newcomers discard their cultural fashion codes, to express themselves with a new-found energy amongst an atmosphere of individuality in a dynamic, global hub. ENLIST embodies this freedom, creating a wardrobe of self-expression and individual style, with a collection that shares this philosophy.

Offering contemporary menswear, which focuses on design, finish and quality at an attainable price point. The brand’s distinctive and strong product story taps into a desire to look good wherever you find yourself. With three tiers forming one collection, ENLIST allow customers to create looks that speak to their own personality. Entry offers fashion essentials; Premium delivers fashion pieces elevated by design, colour, print and innovation; while Ultra is driven by future trends to deliver high-fashion. Appealing to a new, aspirational audience that shuns mainstream fashion labels, ENLIST’s relevance radiates to a wider following, targeting the professional millennial and generation x demographic.


GANT Rugger



GANT Rugger looks to two iconic subjects for its spring/summer 2017 collection inspiration, both historic, yet relevant to contemporary life.

Bob Dylan’s A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall sparked an environmental movement in the 60s, in turn inspiring Mark Edwards’ photographic series exploring environmental issues, published using the lyrics of the song as its narrative. The book’s content taught us that we can play an active role in bettering our environment and the choices we make today will affect our tomorrows. Swedish painter Carl Larsson celebrated the beauty of the everyday world around us while his wife, Karin, established herself as an artist through detailed embroideries of blossoming plants. During a stay in Paris, the Larssons met American artists, and found inspiration in their progressive way of dressing – looser silhouettes, separates, and women in pants – true influencers, they brought this early idea of American sportswear to Sweden.

While these two topics may seem different at first, they intertwine perfectly to set the tone for all three drops of GANT Rugger’s spring/summer 2017 collection. Street Essentials, showing Americana at its best; Cool Events, which stays true to the brand’s heritage with familiar relaxed silhouettes and beautiful textures; while Backyard takes linen to the next level, with a focus on playing and experimenting with brighter colours and softer fabrics. The season honours elements of the environmental movement, the beauty of everyday life, and the art of embroidery.


120% Lino



The world’s finest and most luxurious linen collection – 120% gives us all a lesson in understated luxury. Priding itself in taking pure linen to create a unique, exclusive collection for spring/summer 2017, the brand finds inspiration in the 60s. A soft colour palette of pastels and a new dyeing fade effect, new fabrics including terry cloth and diagonal cold-dyed linen-cotton fleece with a Japanese inspiration are introduced into the collection, along with new linen-cotton stretch fabrics to craft comfortable jackets and trousers.

New themes for the new season include Military, evident in trousers, jackets and shirts featuring front and side pockets, while check and small dots on yarn-dyed fabrics, mixed with embroidered stripes and ethnic embroidery reflect City Moods. Blue printed and embroidered linen chambray, presented in both light and dark colourways, are of great importance in the collection in various shades of indigo.

Designed at the brand’s Bologna headquarters and made entirely in Italy, 120% men’s clothing satisfies sartorial off-duty staples – from knitwear to cargo pants – with a distinctive and meticulous attention to detail.


Afield



Introducing Afield. For spring/summer 2017, Afield introduces its debut collection, as global inspiration teams up with contemporary British design to provide menswear that is distinctive and of high quality.

The brand’s first collection is designed with the beach and pool in mind. With a nod to late-60s era David Hockney along with geometric inspiration from aerial photographer Gray Malin, its summer-friendly colour palette boasts an array of bold and vintage-style prints across shirting, T-shirts and swimwear. Using the best yarns and woven fabrics including crepe cottons, linens and twills, casual meets classic, marrying attention to detail with a unique approach that, simply put, looks further.

Not content with that, Afield makes its big splash onto the menswear scene with collaborations with Padmore & Barnes – creator of the original Irish-made Wallabee – to produce a modern take on its classic style, the Willow; as well as heritage denim brand Blue Matters, to produce a series of high-quality denim products.