Beams + is a range that’s always been highly converted, partly due to its ground breaking quality and partly due to its incredibly limited distribution, which until recently was confined to Japanese retailers only (happily there are now a few UK accounts). This new range contains many classic Americans silhouettes with the mountain parka, Oxford shirt, railroad vest ans chinos all having been reworked and updated by the label.

The Spring/Summer 2012 collection takes its primary inspiration from the 1960’s and 70’s and adds in new styles such as the PO Shirt, double breasted blazer and Naval overcoat to the existing range of high quality staple items. As you’d expect, each is more than a basic re-creation – each piece sees Beams update it with interesting fabrications (hemp sock for instance), classic colourways and beautiful detailing.

Stand out pieces include the mountain parka (in a 65/35 makeup), the excellent cotton duck canvas Naval overcoat and some really nice check shirts in cotton twill. There’s also a collaboration with Kelty Pack which looks great, some lovely cardigans (in four colours) and I’ve already got a pair of the orange marl cotton/hemp socks. It’s a collection full of great pieces.

The range is available now from End Clothing, for more information on the brand, go to their website here: Beams +.

Continuing the themes of modernity and simplistic luxury that have run through his previous work, this collection is said to be based on “the hybrid looks and influences in this age of increased mobility”.  The range draws its inspiration from artists who have found their home abroad and as such, explores the sartorial mix of combining opposing cultures.

Asymmetrical trench coats, form-fitting parkas, crisp mackintoshes, smart dress shirts, deconstructed tailored jackets – the entire collection strives to capture this new aesthetic and this can also be seen in the diversity of fabrics that make up the collection. With wools come from the Austrian Alps, flannels from the mountainous Biella region, shirtings from Switzerland and waxed cottons from the United Kingdom, some of the best quality materials have been sourced from around the world.

The collection is made entirely in Berlin, with the only concession being a new collaboration with Germany’s oldest tie manufacturer in Hamburg. It’s a collection that’s been put together with care and attention, with detail and fabrication the utmost priority. It’s one I can’t wait to see more of it.

For more information on the label and to see the current collection, go to the website here: Paul Davis.

It’s a range the French label say is suitable for either work or leisure. Indeed the image of a chic man riding his bicycle in the city, whilst wearing a traditional outfit is the reference Maison Kitsuné designer Masaya Kuroki’s drew upon whilst putting the collection together. With such inspiration it’s no surprise to see many formal items in wool, tweed and heavyweight cotton featuring.

Once again there’s a continuation of their patch pocket blazer – a fantastic piece, especially in it’s Autumn/Winter guise of checked herringbone tweed (there’s also a slightly different version which makes up the top half of a suit). Other outerwear pieces include a mac, brushed cotton overshirts and there’s also a really nice take on the hooded mountain parka.

Knitwear is always a strong point of the label and this season sees a mix of styles from fine knit cardigans, to chunky cable knit crew necks and Fairisle jumpers (and socks). Stripes and checks featuring heavily on the shirting and there’s chinos aplenty  – which as the images show, the rolled hem’s not going anywhere just yet.

The cycling reference is seen throughout with jerseys, caps and cycling gloves featuring in many of the images but at the same time it does feel slightly superfluous to what is another lovely range of well thought out smart/casual garments. One thing that’s not in doubt is the care and attention that goes into this labels garments – which in turn makes for a durable and timeless product.

For more information on the brand, or to find your nearest stockist, go to the website here: Kitsuné.

As said, fabrics are always a huge part of what Daiki Suzuki does with this label and this range looks to be no different in that respect. It doesn’t feel as immediate as the previous Autumn/Winter range (which is maybe why I only glanced over it originally) but there’s plenty here with seersucker through to typical chambray and washed cottons, plus large checks, polka dots, floral prints, paisley and the odd splash of camouflage making an appearance too.

Overall the range features many decent pieces of outerwear, which I think is something Suzuki is excellent at. From their well known Cruiser jacket, to an update of the brand’s 60/40 anorak in navy blue with multiple pockets, to their take on the bomber jacket (with a ‘shoulder hoody’ under it) and two-button semi-formal blazers there’s loads of great coats on display.

The shooting jacket with the contrast suede panels is detailed up to the nines but looks great for it – for me it’s one of the stand out pieces of the collection, as is the large check baker jacket, which is a much simpler garment but at the same time bold and very wearable. In addition to the many jackets is more of what you’d expect really – a broad range of garments from jersey wear to shorts, shirts and small accessories like ties and scarves.

Above is only a small selection of a collection that’s once again huge, so to see everything else on offer, or for more information on the brand and to find your nearest stockist, go to the website here: Engineered Garments.

The range offers more of what we’ve come to expect from Howell and her well made and elegantly detailed wardrobe staples. There’s plenty of classic items here with a range of formal and more relaxed items making an appearance. This season also looks to be a return to a slimmer silhouette, which is something I’m particularly thankful for, as her clothes might actually fit me again.

Outerwear is something that’s always well considered within the range and here we’re presented with macs, parkas and formal two-button blazers. As is usual with Howell’s collections it’s the knitwear I’m most interested in – the red multi-panel jumper with the big collar and cuffs is a striking piece with lots going on, and at the other end of the spectrum is the white V-neck with its perfect simplicity. Both very different and both great.

Colour is kept simple with plenty of the usual navy blue, grey and black but there are also lighter earthy tones and the odd splash of brighter colour helping to life proceedings. These initial images would mark this as yet another solid collection from one of our best designers. For more information on the brand, or to find your nearest stockist, go to the website here: Margaret Howell.

The actual images from this shoot have recently surfaced (I’ll feature those soon) but this gives a nice insight of the range with plenty of close-ups of the garments. For more information on the brand, or to find your nearest stockist, go to the website here: Woolrich Woolen Mills.

Blitzer began designing the line in 2010, and has now swapped his Wall Street broker position to become a luggage connoisseur. The collection consists of durable yet elegantly designed pieces, all of which are made with the goal of providing hardy luggage that lasts a lifetime.

The collection includes a varied range of luggage – from large pieces like duffel and overnight bags through to smaller items like toiletry and shoe bags. The line’s signature piece though is the highly acclaimed Worton Weekender, which looks like a serious bit of kit.

Bags are constructed from a mix of leather and non-rip ballistic nylon, with all engineered to the highest specifications and with global travel in mind. The range is built on the finest quality American craftsmanship possible, with a keen eye on keeping things simple and elegant – wanting the bags to become timeless classics.

For more information on the brand, or to buy online, go to the website here: Blue Claw Co.

As with the ‘Ascent of Cabourn’ collection, everything here has been developed to coincide with a historically significant moment – this time the 100th anniversary of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to reach the South Pole.

The day prior to my studio visit, Nigel and the team had been to the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge on a research trip and I was lucky enough to see the photographs they’d taken on the day (many of them of items that aren’t on show to the public) and be talked through some of the ideas going into the garments.

Consisting of recreations of 12 pieces of clothing worn by Scott and his party during their time in the Antarctic there’s an emphasis on larger pieces of outerwear (as you’d expect from a collection based on clothing worn in inhospitable environments) with favoured fabrics like Harris Tweed, Ventile, wool and Shearling featuring heavily.

Everything in the range will be strictly limited edition (100 pieces per item) and as with the ‘Ascent’ collection, each piece will come with a beautifully crafted hardback book – I for one can’t wait to see more of this up close in the coming months. For more information on the brand, or to find your nearest stockist, go to the website here: Nigel Cabourn.