As much of the industry struggles to shake off the trappings of the fashion calendar, Samuel Ross is bringing his collections in line with the seasonal cycle, upping his creative input from two collections a year to four. Ahead of his Pre-AW22 offering, which is due to drop early next year, the designer has revealed an exclusive preview starring former Dazed coverstar Pa Salieu.
As the Coventry-born rapper broods to the camera, eyes glinting under the weight of bulky, multilayered hoods, Ross curates a system of technical, function-driven outerwear for the coming season. Designed to straddle both the physical and the digital – intense performance jackets have been blasted with jagged topography and digitised pixels – it’s all about providing protection and comfort in (perhaps increasingly) inhospitable conditions. The label’s trademark Storm Jackets are insulated with an innovative down-fill technology and come printed in glitchy camos, while feather-light 3L Shell Coats have been crafted from reflective jacquard, tubular embroidery, and distorted, matte plastisol ink. The overall effect is more tactile than previous seasons, but no less technical.
With fleece hoodies, enormous, all-consuming scarves, and bulky, built-in storage systems, the A-COLD-WALL* cliente – the “trail traverser, daily commuter, and recreational hiker,” as the brand describes them – may have never ventured beyond the M4, but at least they are prepared. Flick through the gallery above for a first glimpse at what is to come.