Nigel Cabourn
One of the most respected menswear designers of the 21st century, Nigel Cabourn has been creating timeless, trend-proof classics for over 50 years. From working class roots, Nigel Cabourn went off to Northumbria University to study fashion from 1967-71 - one of the most pivotal eras the world has ever seen in politics and a sea change in the message of fashion. As the western world quickly transitioned from crew cuts to long hair and anti-war protesters fueled a cultural and musical revolution, every aspect of pop culture changed forever.
Long before our current heritage boom, Nigel Cabourn launched his first label ‘Cricket.’ From the beginning (and long before market awareness), Cabourn made every attempt to make garments locally and build what he has referred to as an ‘organic’ company, sourcing materials within miles of his Newcastle home. In 1972, a young Paul Smith became his agent and the four person label started seeing some true clout, getting into leading UK retailers and a year later going to Paris alongside fashion royalty like Margaret Howell, Vivienne Westwood, and Paul Smith’s first solo collection. Then in 1980, Cabourn met Sam Sugura who was working with Howell at the time. Loving the Nigel Cabourn brand, Sugura convinced him to expand into the burgeoning Japanese market. The timing couldn’t have been better. Japan was eagerly developing a cultural style and textile expertise that was, and still is, heavily influenced by western design.
Somewhere in that early mix of years, Cabourn caught the collecting bug which has since grown into one of the largest vintage collections in the world. It is through the use of his collection that his designs have become icons in their own right - a combination of greatest hits elements and fabrication that raises the bar on classics. Besides sourcing the best of everything for his clothing, Nigel Cabourn has continued his status because his clothing recreates a storied history beyond fashion - clothes that weren’t created by fashion designers, but as practical improvements by industry technicians or by scientists for explorers. Brought to the urban environment and within the context of fashion, the clothes are like wearing the history of industry, opportunity and perseverance as a statement.
One of the most respected menswear designers of the 21st century, Nigel Cabourn has been creating timeless, trend-proof classics for over 50 years. From working class roots, Nigel Cabourn went off to Northumbria University to study fashion from 1967-71 - one of the most pivotal eras the world has ever seen in politics and a sea change in the message of fashion. As the western world quickly transitioned from crew cuts to long hair and anti-war protesters fueled a cultural and musical revolution, every aspect of pop culture changed forever.
Long before our current heritage boom, Nigel Cabourn launched his first label ‘Cricket.’ From the beginning (and long before market awareness), Cabourn made every attempt to make garments locally and build what he has referred to as an ‘organic’ company, sourcing materials within miles of his Newcastle home. In 1972, a young Paul Smith became his agent and the four person label started seeing some true clout, getting into leading UK retailers and a year later going to Paris alongside fashion royalty like Margaret Howell, Vivienne Westwood, and Paul Smith’s first solo collection. Then in 1980, Cabourn met Sam Sugura who was working with Howell at the time. Loving the Nigel Cabourn brand, Sugura convinced him to expand into the burgeoning Japanese market. The timing couldn’t have been better. Japan was eagerly developing a cultural style and textile expertise that was, and still is, heavily influenced by western design.
Somewhere in that early mix of years, Cabourn caught the collecting bug which has since grown into one of the largest vintage collections in the world. It is through the use of his collection that his designs have become icons in their own right - a combination of greatest hits elements and fabrication that raises the bar on classics. Besides sourcing the best of everything for his clothing, Nigel Cabourn has continued his status because his clothing recreates a storied history beyond fashion - clothes that weren’t created by fashion designers, but as practical improvements by industry technicians or by scientists for explorers. Brought to the urban environment and within the context of fashion, the clothes are like wearing the history of industry, opportunity and perseverance as a statement.