Lavenham and Nicholas Daley Collaborate For S/S 21

Notoriously known to work with recognised artisans, creating bespoke textiles, designer Nicholas Daley has teamed up with British quilting brand Lavenham to create a S/S 21 capsule collection. Following on from their previous collaboration, which saw both Daley and Lavenham collaborate on a UK Sound System-themed collection, Daley looked to reggae legend Peter Tosh as a starting point to draw relations from fashion's ever-changing bond with music.

Finding new ways to communicate his language that is synonymous with craft, Daley has explored traditional Japanese craftsmanship by incorporating the 400-year-old native embroidery technique Sashiko. Although sounding technical, the Japanese initially used Sashiko to keep warm in the harsh winter months and is as simple as putting two or more layers of cloth together, sewn with running stitches, to create small air pockets in the clothing, ultimately trapping much-needed warmth and heat. Uniting through a shared sense of traditionalist values and appreciation for craftsmanship, the techniques and quilting of Sashiko mirror Lavenham's approach to design as a whole.

The Lavenham capsule collection features two gilets, two jackets, and a couple of accessories and forms as part of Daley's Stepping Razor S/S 21, which also fittingly reflects British and Japanese design. To tie in Daley's references, the collection's imagery features London-based drummer from the Jazz group Sons of Kemet, Edward Hick, doing what he does best (yes, a few drums are in sight). Hick's relevance to the collection highlights the significance of music's relationship with fashion and Daley's inspirations behind the pieces designed (namely musician Peter Tosh).