For almost two decades, Albam has quietly helped shape the language of contemporary menswear. Founded on the idea that clothes should be functional, considered and built to be worn rather than simply admired, the brand has become an important reference point for a generation of men’s clothing that values longevity over novelty.
That heritage continues with this Autumn, a collection rooted in the familiar vocabulary that Albam has refined over the years: relaxed proportions, practical silhouettes and fabrics selected as much for how they age and feel as for how they look.
For the new season, British photographer John Spinks travelled from London to the Região do Norte in Portugal, documenting the journey on 35mm film. Moving through the region’s roads, landscapes and architecture, he eventually arrived at the factories that have been producing Albam clothing for close to two decades. His photographs turn attention towards the people and processes behind the finished garments, capturing the quiet craftsmanship that has remained central to the brand since its beginnings.
The story then moves back to Britain, to St Leonards-on-Sea, where furniture designer and woodworker John Alfredo Harris wears the Autumn collection between his workshop and home. It is an appropriate setting for clothes designed around making, doing and everyday life: garments that move naturally between work and leisure without demanding either.
Together, the two chapters connect the beginning and end of the process — from the factories and people responsible for making the clothes to those who give them a life beyond the label.
The Autumn 26 collection distils many of the qualities that have made Albam such an enduring presence in contemporary menswear. Loose Oxford shirts, brushed flannels, knitwear and fleece sit alongside a Forge jacket and trouser set constructed in washed cotton twill. The silhouettes are familiar without feeling dated, the fits deliberately relaxed and the materials chosen for their tactility, durability and ability to develop with wear.
There is nothing particularly loud about Albam, and that has always been part of its appeal. Its influence lies in the way it has helped establish a more thoughtful approach to modern menswear — one where utility can be refined, quality can be understated and good design does not need to announce itself.
AW26 continues that conversation. Clothes made with purpose, photographed with honesty and ultimately designed for the most important part of their story: being worn.
I’ll be checking Albam out, cheers