London Collections: Men is never officially started until Topman Design kicks off the proceedings. It always kicks off the menswear fashion week season with a bang and sets the ball in motion. I think the British menswear industry owe a debt of gratitude to Topman for really pushing the boundaries when it comes to opening the eyes of the nation. The brand doesn’t play it safe. We all know safe is boring. You have to keep things fresh and exciting to keep the press, buyers and consumers enthusiastic about the months ahead or the industry will slowly die. I was super excited by this show. There was so much on show: crush velvet coats and suits, broken cables, oversize beanies, razored jaquard, oxidised metals and even printed velvet tracksuits! I couldn’t keep my eyes off the embroidered trainers and it was a joy to see the male models parading around in robe-style coats. The next autumn and winter seasons are looking very promising.
