Spotlight on Conkers menswear
Conkers stood out to us early on for their ability to craft real, proper clothing. You can tell from the eye there is something special about these garments, then you read about them and it’s even better, but when you touch the clothing in person - you realise this is a brand that has it all.
It’s a small team behind Conkers menswear, which was founded in London in 2021. The entire ethos is to draw inspiration from the countryside to craft garments that are inspired by a slower pace of life and speak to the essence of rural Britain. They look to farmers, millers and historical clothing to create something really special; products that they refer to as ‘organic indulgence’ - timeless clothing that is an extension of the environment around us. As such, all of their clothing is made in the UK by British artisans, craftspeople and local mills.
The Farmer shirt
But it all started with one garment: The Farmer Shirt. Designed with a relaxed, boxy silhouette and made of bespoke Irish linen, this grid shirt has quickly become a signature and each collection presents a new colour to eagerly awaiting fans. As fellow shirt enthusiasts, we felt an instant connection to the story and the people behind it (we too started out with one shirt - and we love grid… and Irish linen…the list goes on).
The materials go even further. Conkers menswear prioritises deadstock fabrics and natural fibres. Fabrics include ramie derived from non-stinging nettle plants and casein buttons which are a by-product of the dairy industry, alongside the Irish linen shirt crafted from bespoke fabric by Emblem Weavers in Wexford. These material choices reinforce the brand’s commitment to environmentally conscious British clothing without compromising on design.
Garments are limited due to the deadstock nature of these fabrics and each item is hand-stamped with a number, reflecting the detail and human-focused nature of this brand. Take the Wadded Waistcoast, only 18 were ever made - that’s true small batch menswear.
Conkers are devoted to keeping things local, small and slow. Their upcoming AW26 collection is titled ‘Local’ and goes as far to use buttons collected from the tidal shore of the River Thames. This is a British menswear brand that offers something rare: considered production, and every collection remains true to their founding principles of local craftsmanship, natural materials and rural-inspired design.