2016 marked the last year I designed clothing. Although there were some printed T-shirts, I included them in the 2015 collection, as they spiritually belonged there. The fleece collection was the first time I returned to that fabric since the original 2013 collection. I was really excited to see a similar bonded fabric that would give me contrast to play with. The colour options were strong, with the teal/grey and black/grey being especially nice to work with.
The jacket was inspired by the jacket liners from an M-65 field coat, while also guaranteeing it would work as a mid-layer for the 2014 field coats. The long sleeve was inspired by Stone Island pieces, featuring outer branding on the sleeve and a curved hem to provide a little extra coverage. In terms of fit, these pieces were amazing, and I could not have been happier with how they turned out.
I do wish I had done fewer crazy colour flips and limited that approach to just one style. I really wish I had produced a simple black version of both pieces. But, alas, fashion is fashion. During the summer of 2016, I spent a fair amount of time sewing in the shop, producing tote bags and various other carry-alls. I guess I was just ahead of the plastic bag ban.
The final month of the store saw a special edition printed T-shirt, another piece I wish I had kept simpler, with just a small chest crest to make it a bit more wearable and accessible. But hey, everything is a reflection at the end of the day.
