Daniel Fletcher’s autumn / winter 2019 collection is a rich celebration of his own British heritage in the North of England, showcased in an intimate and brightly-lit space inside the Perseverance Works off Hackney Road. This season it was about looking back to the future; a 60s-flavoured rebellion ever constant. Neo-nostalgia featured in the form of leather co-ords, split-hemmed tailored trousers and double breasted top coats – oft styled with double-faced scarves reminiscent of old-school P.E. uniforms. Both formal and informal, effortlessly elegant for every occasion.
Silk shirts, tees and scarves – created in collaboration with photojournalist John Bulmer – are printed with his images of the North in the 60s, capturing a pivotal moment of socio-political change and spirit of unrest in Britain. Speaking to the designer backstage he says, “one picture, taken in 1965, was used on one of the shirts and it feels so relevant to today in these uncertain times when I think about people marching in London throughout the past year.”
Like most emerging brands working today – in an era where funding cuts are rife and there’s little studio space for creatives to actually create – the threat of a divided existence permeates his practice, producing a collection that supports traditional craftsmanship and industry. Daniel Fletcher is the designer to watch fashioning the future.
