Regarded as one of the coolest stores in America, men’s lifestyle boutique Commonwealth has teamed up with visionary footwear brand CLAE to release a limited edition Hoffman by Commonwealth. Blending classic athletic styling and exceptional comfort, the Hoffman is built on an innovative ultra-lightweight blown EVA outsole with a TPU cup for maximum comfort and stability.

The Commonwealth x CLAE Hoffman features a beautiful long-hair suede, neoprene inner collar and a full grain vegetable tanned leather heel with reflective detail. The unique grey and blue tone hues is a playful nod to the adorable, Lola, Commonwealth’s unofficial mascot and pet French Bulldog to Commonwealth’s lucky co-founder Omar Quiambao. The collaboration was born out of a decades-long strong working relationship between Omar Quiambao and CLAE Founder and Creative Director, Sung Choi, with both brands continuing to maintain an appreciation and understanding for understated essentials. The Commonwealth x CLAE Hoffman fuses an east coast aesthetic with CLAE‘s laid back west coast roots, providing both modern comfort and styling versatility.

The Commonwealth x CLAE Hoffman is limited to ONLY 350 pairs worldwide and are priced at £85, available at Hanon shop, so get your skates or board on.

The venues of LC:M were barely cold after the excitement and throngs of stylish and creative folk and while a certain key British Designer was showing her Autumn/Winter 2016 collection, to rave reviews, I may hasten to add, a collaborative collection she had worked on prior was just hitting the stores and website of River Island. The designer in question, is Lou Dalton, the latest Great British luxury brand to work with the River Island Design Forum.

Synonymous with an impressive attention to detail and contemporary aesthetic, Dalton has established herself as a leading light of British Menswear who has the ability to develop exceptional well crafted garments that are both considered and thought provoking.

This collection draws inspiration from photographer Perry Ogden’s book ‘Pony Kids’ and films such as The Rat Catcher and The Selfish Giant, they all tell the stories of working-class children developing personal and working relationships with horses. Lou say of this collaboration;

“I’M A SUCKER FOR DETAIL AND FINISH AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TRIED TO CAPTURE THIS THROUGHOUT THE CAPSULE COLLECTION. WORKING WITH SUCH A GREAT COMPANY LIKE RIVER ISLAND ALLOWED US NOT TO HAVE TO COMPROMISE, ALLOWING US TO DELIVER AN END PRODUCT THAT WAS A THOUGHTFUL ECLECTIC RANGE OF CLOTHING FOR THAT MODERN DAY FELLA”.

The 13 piece collection consisting of outerwear and tailoring infuse the modern with tradition and are among the hero pieces within the range, including a navy/ blue mesh technical Mac with nylon sleeves and oversized zip-pockets creates a modern contrast of texture and colour. Classic tailoring is highlighted in the navy twill blazer and trouser, which can be teamed with the white mixed panel shirt to create a smart separates look.

Our Picks of the Collaboration

When the Global athletics brand New Balance approach the traditional British bench-made shoe makers Grenson and they come together to redefine the premium sneaker collaboration, with the Made in England 576GRB, surely only a thing of pure beauty can result from this encounter ?

Manufactured across both Grenson’s Northampton factory, and New Balance’s UK factory in Flimby, Cumbria, which then take advantage of the years of expertise and  utilise the craftsmanship, know how  and premium materials of both parties, the 576GRB is a collaboration in the truest sense of the word.

Grenson’s best Italian grade A calf-skin leather has been expertly worked into the 576 pattern at Flimby, before being shipped back to the craftsmen at Grenson to apply their signature burnishing and broguing details and essential giving them one last once over.

The components are then returned to the New Balance factory to be assembled by their skilled workers into the final sneaker. This project is one of New Balance’s most ambitious ever sneakers to make, due to the complexity and delicacy of the process, the 576GRB represents a new benchmark and yardstick in luxury athletic footwear.