Written by Craig Landale in Essentials on the 4th September 2023

Welcome to September 2023’s edition of the Coolest Stuff, where innovation and style collide in a showcase of the coolest finds of the season. In this edition, we delve into a captivating fusion of sustainable fashion, eyewear renaissance, and timeless British craftsmanship. From materials crafted from apple waste to the rebirth of an iconic eyewear brand, and the enduring charm of British wool, the offerings this month are as diverse as they are intriguing. We also explore footwear that seamlessly blends comfort and style for your everyday adventures and a heartfelt collaboration paying tribute to the brave souls who serve. Join us on this journey as we uncover September's most exciting discoveries, each one telling a unique story of innovation, heritage, and self-acceptance.

Clae AW23 Collection 

Appleskin is a sustainable material made with the apple waste from the juice industry. The apple waste is mixed into the production of synthetic material, cutting 50% of the consumption of PU (polyurethane). By using apple waste, Clae save the Co2 emissions related to the burning of this waste, and they cut the use of fossil resources in half. The material is breathable and waterproof with a high resistance to abrasion and flexometries. The Appleskin capsule collection comes in the Bradley, Joshua, and Malone silhouettes in Off-White colour tones and in Triple Black in the Malone, Joshua, Ellington and Bradley. The collection is primarily made with their new bio-based material, Appleskin, and combined with GRS-certified recycled mesh, laces and foam insoles, and GOTS-certified organic cotton lining. 

clae-uk.eu >

Peregrine AW23 Collection

Having made and finished its garments in the UK for over 225 years, the influences of the British countryside and homegrown fibres are intrinsically interwoven through Peregrine’s DNA. While its factory is located in Manchester, the British heritage brand looks to its adopted home city of Bristol for AW23 - it is from this culturally vibrant city in the South West from which founder and Creative Director Tom Glover and his design team draw their inspiration for colour and texture. Bristol’s urban environment and proximity to nature demand a wardrobe that is slick enough to wear ‘about town’ yet versatile enough to look at ease in neighbouring countryside. Easy to wear, enduring, understated style - pieces from the Peregrine collection are destined to earn the status of old friends. At the cornerstone of the Peregrine collection are its long-standing British wool Hudson Aran jumpers and waffle crew styles.  

peregrineclothing.co.uk >

CIRCULR Relaunch with New Collection 

British eyewear brand CIRCULR is celebrating the dawn of a new era, announcing their relaunch with a new collection. The company’s rebirth has been facilitated with the help of YouTube icon and DJ, Vikkstar, who has become a household name across the globe thanks to his work with The Sidemen, joining CIRCULR as a co-founder. Originally founded back in 2016 by entrepreneurs Leon Scott and Danny Buck, the brand aims to deliver quality, stylish glasses at an affordable price point. CIRCULR’s latest collection ranges between 35 to 39 pounds, delivering premium quality whilst still being accessible to a wide audience. The brand is also committed to inclusivity, creating fashion-forward eyewear that is unbounded by gender or sex. CIRCULR’s ethos is that their style is their expression, and the brand aims to demonstrate that their unique designs are not just for the summer months but can be worn as a fashionable accessory all year round. The first collection will feature seven different styles, all with the signature subtle CIRCULR branding engraved in the top right corner of the 100% UVA/UVA protection solid black lens. 

circulr.co >

TOMS Alp FWD 

TOMS’ Alp FWD got a fresh new design and added colours for wearing all day, every day. Now featuring a higher sidewall for increased foot coverage, a rubber outsole for better traction, and cushioned insoles for extra-comfortable steps, the classic slip-on style got a sneaker-level comfort update for traveling around, running errands, or just walking around the corner to your coffee shop. 

toms.com >

Ekster Trackable Backpack 

After a whirlwind success in launching their first hi-tech wallet on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter - raising over $350k within 40 days and $1M in the first year - Ekster, the next-generation smart accessory brand, has expanded into travel gear and repeated what they did in the wallet field - bring it into 21st century. Named “the world’s most successful smart wallet brand” by Forbes, Ekster is launching The GRID Backpack, a thoughtfully designed backpack made to carry everything you need while offering maximum protection and organization. The GRID Backpack gets its name from both photography and topography, a visual theory of organization that maximizes how space is used efficiently and how to locate something. The face of the campaign is Aaron Brimhall, one of the most influential action photographers of our time, father, art director, and adventurer who is the embodiment of what The GRID Backpack represents - a take-me-anywhere backpack built to keep you ready for the unknown, taking you from the daily commute to an outdoors adventure without the need to repack. 

ekster.com >

Spinnaker Hull Commander Automatic Help For Heroes 

Spinnaker watches have launched their latest collaboration with the esteemed Help for Heroes organisation, the Hull Commander Automatic Help For Heroes Limited Edition. This exquisite and meaningful timepiece pays homage to the service and sacrifice of those who have served while contributing to the vital work of Help for Heroes. Limited to just 400 pieces worldwide, the Hull Commander timepiece is a testament to the bravery and dedication of British servicemen and women. As a symbol of support and gratitude, 5% of the net sales from each watch will be donated directly to the Help For Heroes organisation, aiding their mission to provide lifelong support for the Armed Forces community. The Hull Commander Automatic Help For Heroes Limited Edition features a 42mm stainless steel case, water resistance up to 300 metres, and combines durability and elegance. The second-hand is adorned with the Help for Heroes tri-colour stripe, a subtle yet powerful reminder of the organisation's vital work and the sacrifices made by our heroes. The watch comes with both a metal bracelet and a rubber strap, ensuring maximum comfort and versatility for any occasion. A scratch resistant sapphire lens with anti-reflective coating offers protection, clarity and visibility. The watch is secured by a screw down crown ensuring its durability and resistance to the elements. 

spinnaker-watches.co.uk >

New Era: MLB Heritage Collection 

Championing New Era's latest MLB heritage-inspired collection launching for Autumn 2023, the world’s leading lifestyle brand explores the local stories of creatives across different generations for its latest BEAT OF THE CITY campaign. Bringing the new collection's vintage baseball aesthetic into 2023, the brand’s latest campaign travels across Europe meeting established and emerging protagonists to find out what inspires them and how their artform has changed over the years. Visiting five countries across Europe, New Era meets UK-based barbers Mark Maciver and Justin Carr, French rap legend Me´dine Zaouiche and his son Massoud who is breaking into the rap scene, Berlin-based artists Manuel Osterholt aka SuperBlast and Younes Mohammadi, Italian actors Stefano Salaand Livio Kone, and finally the flamenco dancing mother-daughter duo from Madrid, Penelope Pasca and Alejandra de Castro. Showcasing the latest MLB apparel and headwear seasonal collection in the iconic New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland Athletic teams, New Era’s latest BEAT OF THE CITY campaign highlights and connects multiple stories of established and emerging creators. 

neweracap.co.uk >

The Closet by Teo van den Broeke 

Using the wardrobe of van den Broeke’s past as a lens through which to explore his adolescence, The Closet charts a journey from uncertainty to self-acceptance. From the blue princess dress he coveted as a child that first led him to question whether he was ‘normal’ through to the Nike cap and Gucci loafers that he wore to impress the men he first desired and the suits and furry mules that helped him discover who he truly was, van den Broeke beautifully traces the familiar trials and tribulations of young adult life with blistering honesty and humour. The Closet is guaranteed to resonate with anyone who grew up unsure of who they are or what they should be doing with their lives (which is to say, everybody). He vividly brings to life his own experiences in a way that will have you laughing, crying and screaming in equal measure. His writing will leave many readers feeling a huge amount of nostalgia for their own early adulthoods—particularly those who grew up wearing baggy jeans and Puma Mostros, drinking in sticky-floored bars and obsessively messaging their friends on MSN. Courageously recounting his sexual awakening, the all too familiar hesitancy around his adult future – and his many, often tumultuous, relationships with family and friends – Teo learns that it is only in celebrating our differences that we can learn to fully embrace the brilliance within ourselves. 

waterstones.com >

Featuring Clae AW23 Collection, Peregrine Launches AW23, CIRCULR Relaunch with New Collection, TOMS Alp FWD, and Ekster Trackable Backpack.