London based clothing brand Art Comes First has teamed up with designer Fred Perry to create a brand-new collection which released on the 23rd July. The collection takes inspiration from photographer David Henley and his exploration of ‘Rudeboy’ culture in Jamaica and the UK.
Fred Perry was a brand initially run by the Perry Family; it was founded by tennis player Fred Perry who also helped create the world’s first sweatband. The brand has always been very sporty and notable pieces include the classic white knitted Polo Shirt that was used at Wimbledon in 1952, as well as coloured versions of the Polo Shirt which were made for table tennis. Fred Perry has collaborated with other luxury brands, past collabs include big names such as Raf Simons and Comme des Garcons. The British heritage brand often welcomes designers across the world to introduce their culture and leave their stamp on Fred Perry.
Art Comes First is a slightly different brand to Fred Perry. The black-owned collective create bespoke, luxury garments inspired by cultures from around the world. They aim to bring style and tailoring back into the menswear wardrobe. Although the brands don’t share a lot of similarities, they have collaborated together before, back in 2016. Their previous collection was monochromatic and simplistic which is world apart from this new vibrant collab.
Taking inspiration from David Henley who captured the spirit of the ‘Rudeboy’ culture by photographing it seen in Jamaica and the UK in the 70s, the two brands put together a bold collection. The signature Fred Perry shirts are adorned with graphic prints that reflect the feel of Caribbean life, not forgetting the three-colour stripes that feature on the chest of most of the pieces. As Jamaica is an exotic destination usually associated with vibrancy, the bright colour and prints are very fitting.Â
The collection includes a range of clothing such as knitted T-Shirts, jackets, polo shirts, and bags. A standout piece is the red bowling shirt which has the Fred Perry logo embossed onto the front. Worn with jeans for a casual look or with a pair of shorts for lounging by the pool the bold red shirt is a perfect piece for Summer.
The collection is out now, and you can get your hands on it at END Clothing, you can also see the full collection at Fred Perry. Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter so that you can keep up to date with the latest trends, discount codes, competitions and more. And if you want more content like this, then head over to our blog where you can discover all the latest news in fashion and music.
