March 04, 2022
WHAT IS THE NEXT URBANWEAR?
There has been a subtle evolution over the last few years that has involved the way we dress in cities. Accomplice to the popularity of a new \lingua franca\ of style, which feeds on half of the trends carried by the currents of social media and half by a renewed love for brands with history and authenticity, a new code has taken shape, made of a classic and timeless clothing but equipped with modern lines. The place where this new style manifests itself are the big cities, the urban centers where the new generations have gradually abandoned both the excessive informality of sportswear and the impractical formality of elegant clothing.
It's a style that in another era would have been defined as smart-chic, borrowing elements from the preppy aesthetic made up of ankle boots and suede shoes, ribbed sweaters and formal outerwear and referring to a galaxy of brands born in different times and places that nevertheless have the authenticity of their stories in common. From A.P.C.'s contemporary Parisian wardrobe to Blundstone's indestructible ankle boots, via Clarks' Wallabees and Clogs and Baracuta's G9 Jackets, as well as wardrobe classics like Levi's jeans and Filson's accessories, all of these brands share a natural iconicity, not to mention a quiet authority on the comings and goings of fashion trends. Their lines are not vintage because they belong to all eras, and their fit and functionality are sporty while not being part of the streetwear vocabulary.
These are fully democratic designs, rooted in tradition but not fossilized in it. But, above all, still capable, precisely because of their classicism, of evoking sophistication and nonchalance. After all, in the age of social media, authenticity and naturalness are the most precious accessories - and nothing is more authentic and natural than what is simple and timeless. The secret of this language is, as mentioned, its timelessness, which is able to unite different generations of designers and consumers: what connects a modern brand like Nanamica to a classic one like Barbour is the focus on workmanship, details and materials - the style that lasts is that of clothes made to last.
