Good news for those in search of an alternative to Topman, All Saints and Fred Perry: Weekend Offender, the sharp, casual and affordably priced British menswear brand, is headed to the US after taking its native Britain by storm almost nine years ago. Founded in 2004 by Sam Jones and Rhydian Powell, who hail from Merthyr Tydfil (yeah, you say it out loud) in Wales, the brand began from a simple line of tees sold out of an independent clothing store then owned by Jones. But as Jones explains, the concept that he and then-graphic design student Powell always had was simply to “design clothing that we would wear ourselves. We have always had an honest, no-nonsense approach to the clothing and are not afraid of doing things that others won’t, and that makes us stand out from other brands.” The other notable feature of Weekend Offender? A resistance to branding that keeps the designs practical, modern and sharp enough for Britain’s Tom Hardy, Jake Bugg, Idris Elba, Liam Gallagher and Mac Miller to sport around town, though Jones says the brand has yet to claim any official brand ambassadors.
Offered this fall at American Rag in Los Angeles, Bodega in Boston and Mildblend Supply Co. in Chicago, Weekend Offender has a main line and a premium line. The former, which retails between $35-200, comprises ruggedly sharp items such as a quilted chambray shirt-jacket to lightweight waxed cotton jackets with drawstrings, patchwork plaid shirts and colorblocked tees. The premium Category A line, priced between $50-300, contains slightly more directional pieces ranging from streamlined Macs to polka dot button-downs, novelty sweatshirts and polos.
Additional highlights from the fall collections include color pops and unique pocket placements to unexpected city guides in the linings featuring everything from hash cafes to red light districts. Says Jones: “We don’t really follow trends. We just make clothes that we like.” Details are scant for now on several highly anticipated collaborations Weekend Offender has in the works, but as Jones reminds us, “We are continually inspired by football, music, film and subcultures from the past and present.”
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