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In September 2017, we visited John Smedley's factory in
Derbyshire, home to what is hard to dispute, some of the best fabrics in the
world. The Lea Mills site was founded in 1784 and has been processing fine
fabrics ever since. And it is this niche that makes their fabrics so good. By
focusing on one area, one category, this makes, by default and experience, an
expert. And the end result: some of the best fabrics in the world. However,
that alone is not always a recipe for business success - a company needs a
talented CEO, a modern design team, trained staff, marketing skills, and more.
Fortunately, this is something John Smedley has: 21st century business mastery,
and that, combined with a first-class product, is the recipe for success.
View of John Smedley's factory in Lea Mills
And there's no better sample than in the brand's Spring /
Summer 2018 collection: first seen at John Smedley's inaugural London Men's
Fashion Week show, the Derbyshire brand launched its 'Precision / Fluidity'
collection. . With many brand new additions, the collection is packed with new features,
while remaining true to the company's heritage. A perfect combination of my
opening paragraph.
image 1
Everyday objects are seen in their most essential forms and
functions, and are largely simple and distraction-free to keep your focus on
the most important aspects. This allows the collection's shapes and materials
to be precisely matched to provide an elegant balance between pleasing
aesthetics and simplistic functionality. The juxtaposition of the collection's
high concept coupled with its low-maintenance appearance gives an added sense
of durability.
image2
In menswear, new collar and shirt shapes have been
introduced, and one of the highlights of the collection includes the John
Smedley men's suit, designed to make a sharp impression and featuring superfine
merino wool and wild silk lining from John Smedley. The brand's style will be
available exclusively at the brand's Jermyn Street boutique, which celebrated
its one-year anniversary during London Men's Fashion Week this year.
image3
The John Smedley archives were a great inspiration for the
collection, especially on the subject of fluency. An Asian influence sees the
season emblem derived from an original watercolor painting of a Japanese Koi,
which was brought to England by John Smedley 11 in the 1930s upon his return
from his first trip to Japan.
image4
John Smedley knitwear is recognized around the world and the
company remains a family business to this day. The company is still based in
the same place where it was founded and continues to innovate while preserving
the traditional techniques it has used for more than two centuries. All we can
see is that we look forward to the next two centuries.
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