Nigel Cabourn at LC:M

That Dapper Chap views the SS16 collection by British designer Nigel Cabourn at the Army Gym store in London's Covent Garden.

The six pocket Tenzing jacket £620

As anyone who knows me will testify, I have been a fan of vintage fashion for years. While I have not actively sought this particular stream of heritage style, I have admired it ever since I inadvertently discovered Instagrams AndDeath. His instagram account shows him wearing that military and japanese styling that Nigel Cabourn is a true expert at. There is something about the shapes, colours and fabrics that truly gets me excited.

About Nigel Cabourn

Hailed as a cult British designer, Nigel Cabourn has worked in the industry for over forty years producing collections, which are not influenced by ‘fashion’ trends but driven by inspirational stories of real people in history and vintage military, outdoor and work wear pieces.

The man himself Nigel Cabourn

A passionate and avid collector of vintage clothing since the late 70s – he has amassed an archive of over 4,000 pieces - unearthed from all corners of the globe. It is from this ever-increasing archive that Nigel draws inspiration for styles, fabrics and details to ensure that each collection has a real story, sense of history and integrity.

His aim to create a brand that celebrates the best of British has been realised with his Authentic line, launched in 2003, which uses quality heritage fabrics and is produced in British factories to the highest standards and craftmanship.

Pieces from the Authentic and Classics ranges

The Mainline Collection, designed by Nigel and manufactured in Japan, is driven by his appreciation of innovative Japanese fabrics and production techniques, yet still complimenting the philosophy of the Authentic Collection.

To this day, Nigel remains the hands-on driving force behind the Nigel Cabourn brands – Authentic and Mainline - working closely with his design and production teams and various collaborators to produce around 18 collections each year.

The SS16 Collection at LC:M

London yacht chandler, Arthur Beale is collaborating with menswear designer, Nigel Cabourn, to bring his naval themed LCM show to life with the loan of historic memorabilia including vintage ropes, ship’s bells and wooden boxes.

At the event Nigel cabourn unveiled three SS16 collections: his British made Authentic range, his Japanese Mainline collection, and a new 'work wear' label called Lybro X Nigel Cabourn.

Beautifully crafted naval inspired jackets

The SS16 collections pay homage to the British and US navy and in particular to the WW2 Atlantic convoys - when the two countries joined together in an alliance to combat enemy planes, ships and submarines.

Inside the Army Gym store in Covent Garden, London

Womenswear also featured at the event

The Authentic and Mainline collections take inspiration from garments worn by Naval officers and Lybro X Nigel cabourn from uniforms and work wear worn by sailors and workers at the time.

Classic Authentic styles such as the Cameraman, Mallory, Aircraft jackets are all given a naval twist through fabrics and colours used and the Surface jacket has been reintroduced especially for this season.

Guests enjoying the Nigel Cabourn event

Quirky decorations hang alongside Nigels pieces

Work wear in navy fabrics

Fabrics for this Authentic collection include officers 'sateen' Japanese canvas, hopsack denim, carded jersey, indigo pinwale, bonded nylon, and cotton poplin resin. Naval colours such as black navy, blue, grey, off white, denim and chambray all feature throughout.

For Mainline the collection is inspired more from US navy influences in styles but with Japanese fabrics used throughout. Raw indigo denim and army green feature, as well as a mix of cotton denim and herringbone, chambray, cotton oxfords and jerseys.

A close up of the detail on this jacket

Models show off the latest styles

The first full Lybro X Nigel Cabourn features work wear jackets, wide leg pants, naval dungarees, worker shirts and matching ties and caps. Colours include black navy, work blue, denim, chambray, grey, stone and white.

Also included in the Lybro collection is a range of functional 'army gym' jersey sweats, which take inspiration from military sportswear used for basic training in WW2.

Mr David Gandy discussing designs with Nigel Cabourn

The introduction of a dedicated work wear collection is something the designer has been planning for a number of years and has a history behind it.

Nigel Cabourn says

"As a fashion student in 1970 I entered and won a national competition sponsored by Lybro, to design a work wear overall. Hence the name always meant something to me. Then by chance, about five years ago, I came across three vintage wooden Lybro advertising boards from the 40s-50s - when the Liverpool-based company was one of the most important work wear brands in the UK"

Yours truly with Mr Nigel Cabourn

"Anyway I brought the Lybro boards because I'm sentimental and when I looked to see if the company was still in existence I was staggered to find it was defunct and available to buy 'off the shelf', which I did straight away"

Made using British and Japanese fabrics like heavy industrial canvas and drill, Japanese raw denim, pinwale aged cord, rubber ball washed sateen, heavy sweat and aged T-shirting, this Lybro X Nigel Cabourn has been produced in Hong Kong and Portugal.

inside the Army Gym store

Close up detailing

More of the SS16 collection from Nigel Cabourn

Nigel Cabourn said:

"One of the original Lybro slogans was 'into a Lybro - on with the job' I love this as it captures what work wear should be all about. I'm a big supporter of British manufacturing but in order to produce a great work wear collection using the best British and Japanese fabrics and trims, which is competitively priced to comparable brands such as Engineered Garments and MHL, I've had to take production off shore"

All collections will be available to buy at The Army Gym, 28 Henrietta St, Covent Garden, London and as www.Cabourn.com and various stockists from Spring 2016.