Last night, Saul Nash showcased Dresscodes, his AW24 collection inspired by the the energy and rituals of London garage clubs. Famously, these clubs often had strict dress codes – “no hoods/no hats/no trainers” – so as a nod to that, the London designer presented a collection of pieces to get you into the club – and crucially to wear everyday.
“Growing up, I witnessed the garage scene through the eyes of my older brother, who was an MC. It set the blueprint for how I see clothing today. The question was, how do you take sportswear and dress it up to get in? That was the starting point for this collection”, Nash said of Dresscodes.
Soft merino knit jackets juxtaposed with recycled nylon zip-ups, whilst utility jackets and lightweight denim pieces completed the technical-heavy collection. Bags – made in collaboration with sustainable fashion brand ARCS – featured for the first time, with crossbody bags echoing the collection’s utility jacket, and holster bags fastened with magnets.
The show coincided with 30 years of UK Garage, and featured a set and catwalk that harked back to the halcyon days of 4×4 and 2-step. MC Bushkin from Heartless Crew and photographer Ewen Spencer both walked the runway to a soundtrack mixed by CKTRL and featuring Envy mic duties – RJ East, Nash’s older brother and the one who first introduced the designer to the garage scene.
This season Saul Nash is part of the Smiley® Future Positive Creators Fund, a monetary fund and mentorship support scheme designed to aid the sustainability endeavours of game-changing designers. This partnership featured in Dresscodes with close-up smileys printed on the front of a zip-up shell jacket – but only forming when the arms are held against the body.
The Saul Nash AW24 collection also saw a collaboration with American footwear brand Sebago, as two exclusive new styles were unveiled: the Classic Dan Club Loafer and the Classic Dan Wrapped Hybrid Loafer. Each was reimagined with a contrasting Vibram sole for a sporty, avant-garde aesthetic which fuses both brands’ design DNA.
