Heritage menswear
Exploring function, narrative and product systems within heritage apparel
Context
This work began with a series of conversations around heritage, performance, and longevity. Before form was explored, the focus was on understanding how the product should function, feel, and exist within a broader lifestyle context. Through a combination of traditional design thinking and commercial awareness, concepts were developed, tested and refined to strengthen both narrative and execution. The process prioritised clarity, restraint, and long-term relevance over trend-led solution.
Mood
Exploring how heritage design adapts to modern movement and use.
Outdoor Heritage explores the relationship between traditional utility and contemporary movement. The collection is informed by how people transition between urban environments and outdoor spaces, carrying the same garments across changing contexts. Heritage references are approached with restraint, focusing on function, durability, and material honesty rather than nostalgia. Through considered proportion, modern fabrication, and subtle detailing, familiar forms are reinterpreted to support everyday use while maintaining a sense of longevity and relevance.
Fabric
Material choices prioritise tactility, durability and natural ageing.
Fabric selection focuses on materials with inherent character and longevity, favouring woven structures that age well through repeated wear. Emphasis is placed on tactility, weight, and surface texture, allowing garments to develop a natural patina over time rather than appearing static or over-engineered.
Modern treatments are introduced to improve comfort and performance, while preserving the visual integrity and honesty associated with heritage textiles.
Colour
Exploring how heritage design adpats to modern movement and use.
The colour palette is grounded in familiar menswear staples, drawing from natural and utilitarian references commonly found in outdoor and workwear contexts. Deep neutrals and washed earth tones form the foundation of the range, providing versatility and longevity across seasons. Brighter companion shades are introduced with restraint, adding contrast and visual interest without overwhelming the collection. This balance allows colour to support the product story and commercial requirements, while remaining flexible enough to evolve across future iterations.
Form
Developing silhouette, proportion, and functional structure.
Key proportion and pocket refinements explored through iterative sketch development.
The hero piece for the collection was developed from the original M65 military jacket, selected for its clarity of purpose and enduring relevance. Rather than reproducing the silhouette, the focus was placed on refining proportion, pocket architecture, and internal functionality to suit contemporary wear.
Updates were introduced through considered detailing and material application, allowing the garment to retain its heritage character while presenting a cleaner, more modern profile. The result is a familiar form re-engineered for everyday use, balancing utility, restraint, and longevity.
Signature look
A considered expression of modern outdoor heritage.
This look distils the core ideas of the collection into a single, coherent silhouette. Built around the re-engineered M65 jacket, it balances heritage references with contemporary proportion, layering, and material choice. Each component has been selected to support function, versatility, and everyday wearability. The result is a familiar yet refined uniform, designed to transition seamlessly between urban and outdoor contexts while retaining a sense of purpose, restraint, and longevity. This look serves as the visual anchor for the wider collection, demonstrating how form, fabric, and colour come together to create a modern interpretation of heritage menswear.
Signature look
A considered expression of modern outdoor heritage.
Signature look
A considered expression of modern outdoor heritage.
From concept to range
A considered expression of modern outdoor heritage.
The Outdoor Heritage concept was developed beyond a single hero product into a cohesive seasonal range. Design decisions were guided by consistency of material language, colour balance, and functional hierarchy, ensuring the collection could scale across multiple categories while retaining a clear point of view. The final range balanced brand heritage, commercial viability, and seasonal relevance, translating narrative intent into a clear, structured, and deliverable assortment.