Sneak Peek: John Smedley AW10

I appreciate that most of your attention will be focused on the final goings on in Milan but I'd like to divert your gaze from the European catwalks and on to an award winning heritage brand. Ever since I visited John Smedley's base deep in the Derbyshire Dales I've not looked at their knitwear in the same way. This brand may have been churning out quality knitwear for over two hundred and twenty five years. Yet, it has lost none of its passion, sense of craft and desire to innovate. For me, it is one of most unsung British brands and although it likes to go about its business quietly and assuredly, I feel like shouting from the roof tops. I therefore jumped at the chance of sharing an exclusive sneak peek at one of the images from their AW10 offering with you...

John Smedley's AW10 collection ‘The Archivist.’

For AW10 John Smedley's menswear collection draws inspiration from the personality of ‘The Archivist.’ It explores the concept of a ‘collection’ in all its guises. It blends well loved pieces with future classics to create a textural and colourful anthology reminiscent of a passionately compiled archive. The collection really taps in to my understanding of the art of wardrobe building. After all, new items should be timeless pieces which we can collect and treasure. Classic designs like the Dorset shirt and Daimler cardigan have been carried over to ensure the best selection of necklines and fits, while new silhouettes and trends compliment these well loved heritage pieces. This theme continues in to the colour palette with classic tones of charcoal, black, navy and silver running alongside new additions like rosebud and feather grey whilst stripe formulas and block patterns allow for dramatic combinations of rich hues.

The attention to detail, colour and textile which characterise John Smedley craftsmanship are all key. In combination with new and exciting developments in production technology and a few progressive design pieces, this collection is an eclectic blend of classic and contemporary, lovingly drawn together like the most memorable of archives. Before I get my hands on the rest of the look book images, this is a timely reminder that I still need to sort out my wardrobe and continue the art of wardrobe building!