Christopher Raeburn: The Ultimate Luxury Sustainable Fashion Label
Christopher Ræburn is a luxury fashion label that prioritizes the three R's - Reduced, Remade, Recycled - without compromising on style. To celebrate studio Raeburn's striking Spring/Summer 18 collection shown this month at London Fashion Week Men's, I looked back on his past projects and collaborations and explored the various ways that the British designer is championing sustainable fashion.
One way in which Christopher Ræburn puts his values into practice is by collaborating with equally well-meaning, enthusiastic eco-fashion warriors. This season, he collaborated with EXKITE, an Italian brand that re-purposes used, pre-flown kites into wearable recycled clothing, and also with Palladium Boots, who provided their classic 'urban explorer' footwear made from sustainable materials for the Spring/Summer 18 catwalk show. In the past, Ræburn has worked with big brands like Eastpak, Barbour, Clarks, Rapha, Fred Perry and Moncler, infiltrating international supply chains with his ethical fashion message, as well as supporting smaller indie brands like Wool & The Gang and Unmade.
In the past, Ræburn has worked with big brands like Eastpak, Barbour, Clarks, Rapha, Fred Perry and Moncler, infiltrating international supply chains with his ethical fashion message, as well as supporting smaller indie brands like Wool & The Gang and Unmade. I also love that he has regular open studio events, speaks to and supports student designers, and even runs public workshops, like recently making a stylish stuffed animal from recycled materials. The whole ethos of changing the way luxury fashion operates, from making everything in-house (in England) and considering the environment at every stage, to generally being more transparent about business practices and opening up the previously elitist, secretive industry to the wider public.
Christopher Ræburn’s pioneering work has brought sustainable design to a mainstream fashion audience embodying luxury with integrity, and function with fashion. As Suzy Menkes said “It is Mr Ræburn’s clear vision of clothes that protect man and the planet that make him an original and exceptional designer”. The brand currently has over sixty stockists worldwide and has received an amazing array of media coverage nationally and internationally. Ræburn has also won and been nominated for multiple industry awards, including GQ Man of the Year, British Fashion Council Fashion Fund, UKFT Menswear Designer of the Year, Woolmark Prize and Emerging Talent in Menswear at the British Fashion Awards.
Overall, I am just totally obsessed with what the brand is promoting, even if I am far away from being able to afford one of his collectable limited edition pieces (I particularly adore the REMADE Silk Map Shirt Dress!) Everything is proudly #RemadeInEngland, and materials include re-purposed parachutes, kites and other now defunct military paraphernalia. Christopher’s pioneering work has brought sustainable design to a main-stream fashion audience and presents a new definition of luxury with integrity.
I love these transparent image collages by talented photograher Gio Staiano, which I came across while curating social content for London Fashion Week Men's (previously referred to as London Collections Mens if you're confused!) as part of my editorial internship at SHOWstudio. To see my Christopher Raeburn curation, along with a brilliant review of the Spring/Summer 18 show by Georgina Evans and catwalk images by NOW Fashion, click here.
What do you think of Raeburn's new collection?