LONDON, United Kingdom — In a somewhat rare arrangement as far as design houses go, father-son duo Joe and Charlie Casely-Hayford have built a formidable menswear business based on Savile Row tailoring and modern English style. Worn by a diverse set of musicians and actors, including Tinie Tempah,  Drake, Sam Smith, and Benedict Cumberbatch among others — British luxury label Casely-Hayford  offers a singular wardrobe for men (and now women) built on craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation. Their Fall / Winter 2018 Menswear collection shown off the runway, but instead in their London atelier in the Seven Sisters neighborhood, was aligned with their longstanding ethos to adorn a man in sophisticated sportswear.

Outerwear and knitwear have long been a strong suit since the brand launched in 2009. With this season, varying versions of the traditional overcoat are updated with neon banding on the sleeves and fresh fabrications including a Prince of Wales check print with lemon yellow detailing. A pointed standing collar subverts a traditional Macintosh trench while a classic bomber is reimagined with a hand-painted Union Jack motif. Casely-Hayford rarely shy away from reinterpreting conventional patterns and modernizing for today's gent. It is this anarchic undertone that differentiates their work from the staid and in fact, a perspective that is increasingly coming to the fore in Great Britain. 

As much as soon-to-be member of the British royal family Meghan Markle elicits a push towards modernity around the notion of monarchy with her sartorial choices, so does Casely-Hayford seek to reinvent British sensibilities for a man more likely to snap selfies in the Tate Modern than go hunting in the countryside. The younger Casely-Hayford, a millennial himself, is aware of his cohort's social media inclinations and yet is keenly focused on dressing men for whom confidence is defined beyond follower count and re-tweets.

Rich fabrics in periwinkle, mustard, and fuchsia offset crisp white button down shirts, navy pleated trousers, and layered sweatshirts. Other standout pieces include a patterned jacket in icy blue and another tonal parka in slate gray. In our overwhelmingly social world, the Casely-Hayford design duo takes a risk in not pandering to the dominant influencer set. Instead, they advance a sharp critical voice on how one can dress unencumbered by all that in London today.

Photos courtesy of Casely-Hayford.