STYLE – LC:M PREVIEW INTERVIEW WITH MEHMET ALI OF HARDY AMIES

With the lead up to London Collections:Men in full flow, we took a few moments to interview the exceptionally talented designer and man behind Savile Row’s Hardy Amies, Mehmet Ali. With a true icon as the founder of this luxury brand Mehmet has inspiration in abundance to choose from, so find out what the up coming collection will have in store for us….

– Please tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind the upcoming collection? – What can we expect from this collection?, This season’s inspiration began with the figure of Hardy Amies’ interior designer William Haines. We began exploring a substantial body of work from Hardy’s interior design collection. Specifically prints from Hardy’s own range from the 1970s, and the influence of William Haines’ work on Hardy as a designer formed the beginnings of the story and provided an interesting colour palette to work with. The idea of Hardy’s working relationship with the Califoria-based Interior designer provided an element of lifestyle and travel to the collection.

– Where do you find your inspiration?, The design archives are always a good place to start although more recently I have found my own experience in and around London or on my travels have given me ideas that are good to work with. Currently our archive house fabrics for clothing and upholstery, wallpapers, prints, hand loomed swatches are great to refer to as well as the insight we get into the life of our founder through the photo books that have been left behind.

– Is there a person (real or fictional) that you have in mind when designing?, A lot of what I design is based on a look or style that I champion which is to exude an effortless style which I think is very British. It does not try too hard to look perfect, it’s more about the confidence that lives within the individual.

– What do you believe is the most important part of the Hardy Amies brand that you stay true to?, Adding to my previous comment – the sentiment was also shared by Hardy himself: A quote: ‘A man should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care and them forgotten all about them.’ It’s the ‘forgetting’ that’s the important bit.

– What is the secret to a perfect suit or item of clothing?, The secret is the fit. And it’s the perfect word for it. The fit of the jacket should disguise any imperfections in body shape, and promote natural positives. It should do all of this with ease so that the wearer can remain relaxed and comfortable.

– What’s your favourite piece from the new collection?, The Yarnmouth Sailing coat. Made in Italy at our specialist seam-sealing supplier the fabric is a bonded cotton with a brushed cotton cord collar.

– What do you believe makes a man a gentleman?, Manners make the man and a gentleman has them in abundance.

– How would you describe your own style?, Clean, unstructured, understated.

For more information visit hardyamies.com

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