Like many concert lovers out there, northern menswear designer Daniel W. Fletcher has spent the most part of 2020 longing for live music. Away from his favourite venues, Fletcher has also used this time to totally rejig his business model – skipping digitalised fashion weeks to show at a time that suits him best, selling directly to his customer.
A decent chunk of the designer’s SS21 collection is already sitting on the e-shelves of Fletcher’s online store. Each look takes its cues from enigmatic musicians of yesteryear, designed through a lens equipped to dress the global superstars of the now. Think the wardrobe of Bowie’s Berlin years if it was to be sported on stage by Troye Sivan, or Jagger’s braggadocious suiting worn instead by members of BTS.
Making most of the collection from fabrics leftover from previous seasons, Fletcher brings to the table sensual silk shirts with matching ties, chocolate-brown leather jackets synched with chain-link belts and low-slung satin trousers that pool over the ankle. Signature pieces from the designer’s back catalogue – PE shorts and split-hem trousers included – come elevated this time around, crafting a sublime on- and off-stage uniform for pop’s next poster-boy.
You can argue Fletcher’s had many career highlights in his design journey thus far, whether it be making it to the final of Netflix’s Next In Fashion or taking the helm as menswear artistic director for Fiorucci last year. Yet this cracking collection could be the designer’s true shining moment.
Photography by Leonardo Veloce. You can shop Daniel W. Fletcher’s SS21 collection here.
