London Fashion Week Men’s: Nigel Cabourn AW17
Hailed as a cult British designer, Nigel Cabourn’s collections are not influenced by fashion trends but driven by inspirational stories of real people. Drawing heavily upon the British Forces for inspiration, the North Eastern brand returns for Autumn Winter 17 with another uniquely utilitarian collection. This season Cabourn has focused on The British Airborne Force and the Denison smock worn by the Paratroopers. The history of the Denison is detailed throughout both Cabourn’s Authentic and Lybro collections.
Nigel Cabourn Authentic
Heavily influenced this season by the battle dress uniform of the RAF, Nigel Cabourn Authentic draws inspiration from the clothing worn by pilots and officers during WW2. With a predominantly blue colour palette, taken from RAF blue and battledress shade ‘Nivo’ – a dark, almost black-like blue – sitting alongside the khaki and camouflage shades of the Denison smock, the collection has a distinctly military feel.
A signature piece to look out for within this collection will be without a doubt the sheepskin leather Irvin jacket, a modern update to the original pilot jacket.
Nigel Cabourn Lybro
Nigel Cabourn pays homage to the hard working support crews of the RAF for his AW17 Lybro collection. Drawing upon the work wear of the ground staff, mechanics, and support crews of the Royal Airforce, the collection features heavy-duty overalls, thick cottoned trousers, and heavy jersey basics. Keeping the airborne story alive, the collection combines the colours of the force along with the camouflage of the Denison.
Peak Performance x Nigel Cabourn
What to expect when two experts of performance wear fashion collaborate? The Peak Performance x Nigel Cabourn collection merges Cabourn’s British point of departure and expertise in global army apparel with Peak Performance’s unique Scandinavian outlook. A collaboration described by the brands as being deeply rooted in Swedish military wear, sees oversized shapes, tonal palettes and Scandi-cool styling – think 70s ski style meets army chic.
Heavy sheepskin coats and oversized canvas trousers are the standout pieces from the collection. Styled with awkward length jackets, wool caps, and quilted dungarees, there is no mistaking the Cabourn-ism of the twenty piece collection. A powerful contrast between the crafted and the technical, the collaboration remembers the past to re-imagine the future.
