new & noteworthy
ORLEBAR BROWN: A SHORT YOU CAN SWIM IN You might say that Orlebar Brown was founded by accident. Creator Adam Brown was on vacation in Rajasthan, hanging out with friends around the pool when he noticed how amazing the women looked… but not so much the men. “They were all wearing brightly patterned, baggy boxer-style shorts, briefs or board shorts,” he explains. “The idea for Orlebar Brown came to me when, after sitting by the pool, we had to change for lunch in the bar. Transition and versatility are central to everything we do: beach to bar, work to play, day to night, home to hotel.” Orlebar Brown is now a full lifestyle collection of resort wear, still rooted in the idea of Brown’s original tailored swimsuit, or as he calls it, “a short you can swim in.” The British company’s designers were inspired by an underwater theme for spring 2015. The tropical palette features colors like dark ebony and coral with pops of pink, tangerine and a beautiful dive blue with electric undertones. The focus for tops is on easy, classic knits like pima cotton T-shirts, mélange polos and photoprinted T-shirts. Orelbar Brown prides itself on its timeless designs, luxurious fabrics, attention to detail and quality construction.
RELWEN: TRANSCENDING FASHION Relwen was always a dream for founder Jamie Rupp. Even while working for Bergdorf Goodman and Abercrombie & Fitch, the idea for a menswear brand was always on his mind. “My aim was to build enough experience and knowhow to one day make it happen with my own vision for the product,” explains Rupp. He finally made it happen in 2007 with a brand that he says “transcends fashion and defines great style.” Rupp describes the Relwen aesthetic as “full of the character, authenticity and detail that define iconic clothing. I love real product, stuff with heritage, collectibles, items that have endured the test of time. Quality is always at the root. We all have a deeper experience and connection with things that are truly well made and built with real purpose.” Must-have items for spring include super-light and soft cotton knits like polos, fine-gauge Henleys and knit button-downs. In bottoms, Rupp says the Relwen Commando short is “distinctly the best of its kind and possibly the most authentic in the market.” Functional outerwear like the Trail trench, a hybrid mountain biking rain jacket that is equally adept in the city, is also key. “It has a longer length for sitting or covering tail when riding, or just being out in the elements,” he says. The CPO jacket is another hit: this classic military shirt jacket with combo zipper and button front is a definite essential.
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