Music, Style & Culture

Men’s Fashion Focus: Stitch Menswear

We went along to Stitch to unearth the best new AW12 trends, and labels to watch out for.

Men’s Fashion Focus: Stitch Menswear
12th – 13th February 2012 @ Business Design Centre, Islington

London Fashion Week might not quite be upon us, but that’s not to say we can’t find other means of staying on top of what’s hot in the world of menswear. We went along to Stitch, the menswear trade show, to unearth the best new AW12 trends, and labels to watch out for.

TrendsGents can breathe a sigh of relief, as judging by the AW12 offerings shown at Stitch, men’s fashion seems pretty stable at the minute. With a host of collections drawing on British heritage, military and mod styles, it looks unlikely that there’ll be an influx of brash prints, shoulder pads, or neon any time soon. Traditional cuts and fabrics are paving their way to the fore, while faddy items are few and far between.

In fact, the AW12 menswear collections as previewed at Stitch don’t take any dramatic leaps forward from what the guys have been wearing this winter. It’s still very much a palette of natural shades with the occasional burst of colour thrown in (NUNC), or granddad-style knits given a modern twist (Common Sons). For our pick of the most DIY-esque menswear featured at Stitch, read on…

Labels To Watch
Ferguson
It might well only be the second Stitch this London brand has done, but that’s not to say Ferguson don’t ooze gravitas. We fell in love with their elegantly constructed, timeless jackets which have more than a little of the heritage/military aesthetic about them. And with pieces that would look equally at home in the country as in the city, Ferguson has a wide appeal. We also loved the fact Ferguson have extended their range to include Italian tweeds so they can strive to give not only quality to the customer, but also a competitive price, too. For a jacket you will love for years to come, Ferguson are well worth checking out.



Check out the Ferguson Facebook page for all the latest.

Common Sons
Ed Sheeran is already a fan (don’t hold that against them), and we can categorically say their knitwear gets the thumbs up from us, too. 100% British made, in a quality 50% wool 50% acrylic yarn (no dry cleaning boys!), their jumpers and cardigans are both practical and easy on the eye. We liked the Amnesty jumper featuring the trademark barbed wire with proceeds going to Amnesty, and the inside-out knits with just enough colour to keep things interesting. They’re basically the Graham Coxon of jumpers: cool, without being in your face about it. Plus, who can’t love a label that points out they’re “not just for folk bands”.



Check out the current Common Sons collection here.

NUNC
NUNC stands for Nordic Union of Novel Camouflage and, as far as we’re concerned, it also stands for effortless cool, too. But, then, we are talking about a Danish brand, and those Scandinavian types always seem to get it right. NUNC’s AW12 collection showcases items like cord shirts in burgundy with button-down collars, flecked granddad-style cardigans, and modern duffel coats with rope and toggle fastenings. Slim-fitting shirts are teamed with relaxed-fit knitwear to give the collection a smart and laid-back feel.



NUNC is new to the UK, but you can check out the NUNC website here.