Written by Craig Landale in Essentials on the 15th September 2020

Just when we thought the autumn elements were on their way - leading us to pack away our summer gear – we’re graced with a last-minute spell of sunshine and heat. But hey, I’m not complaining. As usual I’ve hunted down the best new drops this month, and for this guide I’ve put the spotlight on a clothing line inspired by the mod-revivalist era and a shoe capsule designed by model Richard Biedul, among others. So, following on from my August roundup, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite products and releases for the month of September 2020 – enjoy.

Ben Sherman Autumn/Winter 2020  

The Ben Sherman AW20 collection is an effortless blend of smart and casual pieces. This season the British brand has taken inspiration from the latter years of the mod-revivalist era, mixing the iconic style of the time with the brand's own Ivy League roots. Essential items include deconstructed blazers, logo t-shirts, wool check car-coats, paired with tapered wool or flannel trousers, creating a capsule of styles with an enhanced textured hand feel while mixing heritage patterns and rich colours. The collection's retro sports influence can be further seen in its deep V-neck cricket jumpers, polo shirts, and striped varsity cardigans. Palettes evolve to include black and off-white, as well as classic sporty pops of colour. The iconic Ben Sherman button-down shirt continues to be a hero piece within the AW20 collection. Branded elements, patterns, sustainably sourced fabrics, and bamboo yarn-dyed checks take this classic staple into the modern-day. Also, key for the season are must-have outerwear looks presented in a range of styles from bombers, parkas, check coats and corduroy Harrington jackets. 

bensherman.co.uk

Breitling Endurance Pro Timepiece 

Breitling’s Endurance Pro, featuring a thermo-compensated SuperQuartz movement, is the ultimate athleisure watch positioned in the brand’s Professional range. Designed both as a lightweight watch for athletes and a casual, everyday sports chronograph, it is the perfect lightweight and light-hearted luxury sports watch combining high precision, innovative technology, and vibrant, colourful design. The launch will be accompanied by the Breitling Endurance Pro Strava Challenge, which offers the opportunity to compete for some incredible prizes. The Breitling Endurance Pro combines an ultra-lightweight 44 millimeter Breitlight case and a thermocompensated SuperQuartz movement ten times more accurate than conventional quartz, and it offers optimal comfort, matchless precision, and functionality that will appeal both to committed athletes and to more casual sports enthusiasts. Designed for men and women whose active lives blend a professional mindset with a sporty lifestyle, the Endurance Pro is equal to the challenges of a rigorous workout but fashionable enough for everyday wear. 

breitling.com

Joseph Cheaney by Richard Biedul 

The Joseph Cheaney by Richard Biedul capsule collection is available from 17th September. From established model to celebrated Artistic and Creative Director, Richard has designed three classic but contemporary pieces, amalgamating in an eco-conscious, performance-driven collection, suitable for those seeking style and substance. “From the first moment I visited the Desborough factory, I knew that Cheaney was going to be the right brand to help me realise my creative vision. A quintessentially English shoemaker that does not compromise on quality or style. The team understood what I wanted to achieve and took the time to educate me in the craft of shoe making, spending hours with me in the brand archives as well as the factory floor,” Richard comments. 

cheaney.co.uk

Wires Glasses 

In 2016, when his sunglasses broke whilst travelling, designer Yair Neuman hand-made a new pair from a single piece of wire. Inspired by this experiment, Yair was joined by his friends - social entrepreneurs Lily Cole and Kwame Ferreira - to found Wires, which was incubated through Impossible. The first collection was handcrafted by a small team of artisans in Harare, Zimbabwe, using the African wire craft tradition. Wires are now handmade by a family of eyewear experts, in Northern Italy, using a stainless-steel wire for the frames with a patented invisible hinge that allows them to fold. Since inception, Wires Glasses has been on a mission to reduce plastic and material waste in the eyewear industry, through using 3D printing which is a zero-waste manufacturing technology. For their new 2020 collection, “See the World you Create”, Wires are using a bio-material derived from castor beans for both the 3D printed rims, and all sunglasses lenses, including a wide variety of colours: pink, blue, green, orange, brown and grey. The inclusive designs have been developed to suit any face for any occasion, and break the conventions of sustainable eyewear, being ultra-comfortable, lightweight and durable. 

wiresglasses.com

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 

To celebrate 95 years of innovation in sound, design and craftmanship, Bang & Olufsen set out to create the finest wireless headphones the Danish audio specialist has ever built. Today, the company announced the new Beoplay H95: the highest quality in sound, long lasting comfort, truly effective noise cancellation, a beautiful chassis, the highest quality materials and the most satisfying user experience in a Bang & Olufsen wireless headphone to date. “Beoplay H95 is a distillation of the best elements of Bang & Olufsen sound, design and craftmanship – an enhancement within the headphone category that elevates our 95 years heritage of high standards”, says Bang & Olufsen SVP of Product Management Christoffer Poulsen. Comfort and fit are essential to truly enjoy sound quality. Beoplay H95 comes with an oval, over-ear design with soft lambskin ear cushions that provide a luxurious and superior fit for long-term wear, while an innovative and intuitive user interface is provided through a combination of touch control and mechanical dials. 

bang-olufsen.com

Vans New Vault x Taka Hayashi Collection 

A manifestation of Vans’ long history of celebrating artists and creators and encouraging creative self-expression, Vault’s new Taka Hayashi DIY (Design It Yourself) Pack mirrors the brand’s mission and DNA, while elevating one of their most lauded designers. One of three footwear releases from Taka and Vans this fall, the DIY Pack taps into two silhouettes – the TH DIY HI VLT LX and the TH DIY LO VLT LX —both with Velcro upper panels, allowing for a customized mix-and-match experience. Deco stitching throughout the uppers provide guidelines for where to place— or not place—the colourful mix of solids and patterns. For this collection, Taka drew inspiration from the early days of Vans customization in the ‘80s, as well as a sophisticated spin on a few of the decade’s educational design and art toys. The result is a light-hearted approach that elevates the importance of playful design exploration. 

vans.eu

Musto AW20 Collection 

British heritage brand Musto has launched a multitude of new products that have been made with backyard adventurers in mind. Well known for their pioneering products that protect the best sailors in the world in the harshest conditions on the planet, Musto’s latest clothing and apparel launch brings to the market two new collections that celebrate the spirit of adventure: a technical lifestyle range known as EVOLUTION, and a collaboration with fellow British Royal Warrant holder, Land Rover, inspired by the New Land Rover Defender. The EVOLUTION collection harnesses innovative technology in bold, powerful styles for maximum comfort while out exploring. Created for boundary pushers and adventure junkies - on land or sea - who thrive on putting themselves to the test in challenging environments, this kit showcases an impressive balance of technical elements and style. For those wanting to take their adventures to the next level, the Musto Land Rover collection will fit the bill. Musto’s clothing and Land Rover’s New Defender are manufactured with durability at their core. Based on capability and innovation, the range features cutting-edge technology and has been designed for a market that craves adventure, loves to be challenged and requires products that must withstand even the harshest environments. 

musto.com

Torsa Core Collection 

Torsa have announced that they will launch their Core Collection on September 16th. After assembling a team with industry experience at Lululemon, Rapha and Outdoor Voices, the brand aims to disrupt the men’s activewear market in which Founder Seb Beasant says “speaks more to commerciality than innovation.” Combining design-led thinking with technical excellence, Torsa aims to build a brand which pushes the boundaries when it comes to sportswear. “Coming from Swedish heritage, I would naturally gravitate toward brands such as Acne and Our Legacy, but I quickly noticed that sportswear was missing that Scandi-chic aesthetic. My mission was to change that by combining that inherent Nordic minimalism with a highly functional, and innovative product,” Seb adds. 

torsa.co.uk

We feature the Vans New Vault x Taka Hayashi Collection, Joseph Cheaney by Richard Biedul, and Breitling Endurance Pro Timepiece in September 2020’s Coolest Stuff.