Written by Craig Landale in Essentials on the 14th October 2022

I hope you’re all keeping well among the daily doom and gloom in the world. This month has been a very busy month for product drops and there’s been some stonkingly good ones that have caught my eye. This month is very much the month of brand collaborations. Dare I say now is a great time to make a start on your Christmas list? 

Timex Watches X Nigel Cabourn 

Following the huge success of previous collaborations, Timex Watches has introduced their newest collection with British menswear designer, Nigel Cabourn. The Desert Watch is the next iteration in a long-standing line of military inspired timepieces. It draws inspiration from the World War II era whilst continuing to provide the design and functionality to withstand any situation. The timepiece features a white military-style dial with army green markings and a broad arrow design synonymous with the Cabourn military branding. The neutral strap is made from Ventile cotton which is a natural barrier against destruction during inclement weather. Packaged in an iconic military-style carrying case, this timepiece is deserving of the past but stylised for today. 

cabourn.com 

LEE Leesures AW22 Campaign with Free-Runner Jason Paul 

LEE have launched the return of Leesures with their AW22 collection, featuring German parkour champion, Jason Paul, as the new front of the range. The brand's workwear-ready chinos, which was originally launched in 1954, has been expanded this season to include a widened selection of fits and styles including new slim, regular, relaxed, and loose fits in both Chetopa twill and corduroy styles. Along with a range of new workwear shirts and zip-through jackets, the collection comes in a palette of core neutrals and easy to wear seasonal shades. While the boxy looks hail from the heartland of 1950s workwear, LEE have designed the collection with contemporary streetwear in mind, creating the perfect combination of authentic workwear and streetwear spirit. 

eu.lee.com

CAT Footwear launch AW22 RePowered 

For AW22 CAT Footwear sees an expansion of the RePowered collection, partnering with Orienteer Magazine to introduce a new Deviant style and a renewed Reactor offering where minimalist contrasts combine with modernized materials while keeping true to the brand’s industrial heritage. Providing a visual representation of Caterpillar’s rich heritage in shaping urban life, Orienteer showcases the striking new styles across a 1990’s nostalgia-inspired campaign featuring three friends as they prepare for the night ahead. Referencing the brand’s history in British rave culture where iconic CAT Footwear styles were paramount on the scene, keeping the wearer’s feet protected all night long. The campaign captures the feeling of getting ready, journeying through nature to arrive at a secret venue with a fresh take on CAT Footwear’s RePowered range. 

catfootwear.com

KEEN celebrate the Yogui with Tirade World 

KEEN continue to express their ethos of bringing individuals together to unite under a unique perspective. Teaming up with Tirade World, KEEN celebrates the Yogui collection within an interview series entitled ‘Creative Conversations’. The campaign bases itself on self-expression and artistic ingenuity highlighting five creatives each wearing the Yogui in a variation of colourways and prints. Style and creative protagonists Emmanuel Unaji (Fine Artist), Jessica Stratton (Tattoo Artist), Jen Eleto (Stylist), Sam Wooton (Painter) and Desree (Poet) feature throughout the campaign with each boasting an exceptional skill set and artistic expression. The interview series explores each creative’s background, successes, future prospects and advice for up-and-comers. While each individual featured lead within their respective field the Yogui symbolises style unity within the creative industries. 

keenfootwear.com 

Baracuta X Engineered Garments 

Baracuta kicks off their AW22 season by joining forces with Engineered Garments, the iconic NYC brand founded by the Japanese designer Daiki Suzuki in New York in 1999. This is not the first time the two brands have worked together to create limited edition pieces. Baracuta and Engineered Garments are equally dedicated to making garments that become more personal through the experiences had while wearing them. They both value unique garment construction with attention to detail, meaning and hidden qualities behind each design. The relationship between the two brands is very deep, it is a relationship that stems from the knowledge of Suzuki and Baracuta which has been important and present in American culture throughout the years and has since adopted some distinctive traits from there. Through this, the two brands unite again, creating a bridge between England and America. 

uk.baracuta.com

Timberland X Raeburn EARTHKEEPERS Collection 

Timberland continues to work toward its vision for a greener future, bringing eco-innovative product design to life in bold new styles. For AW22, Earthkeepers by RÆBURN continues to serve as a pathfinder for the brand – an always evolving experiment to push the boundaries of responsible design using high quality, earth-conscious materials. Highlighting this season’s collection, the Earthkeepers by RÆBURN Timberloop Utility Boots are made using responsible materials from heel to toe. Featuring signature pops of colour and a utilitarian-inspired design, these boots use the durable, premium leathers Timberland is known for, and feature a rugged outsole made with natural rubber sourced from trees grown in responsibly managed forests. Feet stay comfortable and secure, thanks to a removable stretch-knit sock bootie made with ReBOTL recycled plastic fabric. 

timberland.co.uk

Wrangler X Leon Bridges 

Wrangler has announced the continuation of the brand’s collaboration with “Mr. Wrangler,” Grammy award-winning recording artist, Leon Bridges. In celebration of Wrangler’s 75th anniversary, the Leon Bridges x Wrangler Collection is a nod to silhouettes from the brand’s iconic archives and Bridges’ personal soulful style. Wrangler’s long-standing, 75-year relationship with music and the western lifestyle is a natural fit with Bridges’ authentic Texas roots and adoration of Wrangler denim. While on tour, Bridges worked closely with Wrangler’s own design team to creatively direct and curate the collaboration by pulling inspiration from urban and contemporary music culture. 

eu.wrangler.com

Champion X Percival Collection 

British menswear brand Percival have worked together with the iconic American sportswear apparel brand Champion to deliver an exclusive capsule collection that perfectly combines the philosophies of both brands. The selection is understated and contemporary, using muted tones across the collection that are brought to life by the embroidered design around the Champion logo. The collection marries perfectly together what make both brands such icons in their respective categories. Champion, widely regarded as the inventors of the hoodie, boast over a 100-year history of delivering stylish and practical sportswear pieces, and this is reflected in their collaboration with Percival. The pastel, subtle pink hoodie harks back to the traditions of the Champion brand yet has the personal aesthetics and subversive touch of Percival through the embroidered dandelions surrounding the logo. This theme of embroidery runs across the collection, with Koi carp depicted on the long sleeve black T-shirt, and octopi on the short sleeve white tee. 

percivalclo.com

Jabra Connect 5t 

Jabra, leaders in personal sound and office solutions, have this month released the Jabra Connect 5t as the third product in Jabra’s Connect series, joining the Connect 4h, a flexible headset, and the Jabra Connect 4s, a portable speakerphone, in a range of products created for those who want to choose their flexible remote working solutions. The Jabra Connect 5t brings the benefits of true wireless earbuds to the series and promises to be a sound remote-working companion. In an age where working from home is standard, having the right tools and technology is a top priority for most. According to Jabra’s Hybrid Ways of Working 2022 Global Report, 57% of employees are opting for a flexible work model while 28% are fully remote. With that in mind, the Jabra Connect 5t is engineered for those working from home looking for earbuds for both home working and leisure use. 

jabra.co.uk

Admiral Sporting Goods Co. AW22 Campaign 

Admiral Sporting Goods Co. pays homage to its illustrious past by redesigning classic sportswear pieces. The AW22 collection accepts the summer season ending and autumnal colours starting to set in, similar to the last views of its namesake Admiral butterfly. The Admiral Butterfly is currently about to emerge from its chrysalis, having started life as a humble caterpillar, a process known as a transitional state. The collection was designed with a human transitional state in mind, the move from lockdown back towards an open outside world, combining that with a continuous focus on archival sporting pieces that offer comfort, durability and versatility. Throughout the collection there is a heavy focus on garment dying. Extensive research and development into ageing processes was carried out, leaving a range of garments with a true heritage sportswear look, whilst ensuring the quality and comfort of each piece is not compromised. 

admiralsportinggoods.com

Leesures x Jason Paul, Timex Watches x Nigel Cabourn, Baracuta X Engineered Garments, Timberland X Raeburn, Wrangler x Leon Bridges, and Champion X Percival Collection.