Fashion retailer River Island is launching a collaborative collection
with YMC (You Must Create) to celebrate the designer label’s 20th
anniversary, as part of the British Fashion Council-backed Design Forum
programme.
The 15-piece collection features products based on the YMC archive
spanning casualwear, outerwear and accessories, including a zip front
jumper from the label’s debut catwalk outing a decade ago, a pac-a-mac from
2001, an update of its skate pants from 2015, and a re-issue of the brand’s
baseball shirt from its spring/summer 2015 line.
Other pieces include a double zip jacket from 2006, a rib collar shirt
from 2009, the brand’s signature star ‘Sabbath’ knit from 2003, and a
slit-pocket T-shirt from 2013 that will be available in khaki and yellow
with contrasting orange slit pockets.
YMC founder and creative director, Fraser Moss, said: “We had never
worked with a high street brand before, but when the opportunity came to
work with River Island we were confident it would be the right move. Our
loyal following and heritage, combined with River Island’s global audience
made for the perfect partnership.
“When it came to designing the collection we wanted to not only ensure
that the River Island man was always front of mind, but also to create a
collection that was true to the YMC DNA. River Island not only allowed us
the creative freedom to do so, which we felt was very important, but also
offered their expertise to bring a new point of view.”
The collection will hit selected stores and online from early June to
coincide with London Collections: Men, with prices ranging from 22 to 160
pounds, and will be celebrated with a short film that will premiere
alongside other films at the London Collections: Men Fashion Film event.
The River Island Design Forum has championed a number of homegrown
labels including Christopher Shannon, Lou Dalton, Sibling, Eudon Choi and
Georgia Hardinge.
Sketches: Courtesy of River Island