UNIVERSAL WORKS // 36-37 VENTED

UNIVERSAL WORKS

WORDS JAI MCINTOSH & UNIVERSAL WORKS

We’re all familiar with The Hare and the Tortoise. A fable told to most school kids; it’s a stark warning about the arrogance of overconfidence. It champions the ‘more haste, less speed’ approach and aims to teach us about the importance of taking challenges at a more steady, stable pace.

Taking pride in the plod means we can enjoy the journey, after-all. It’s a sentiment that resonates strongly with UW founder, David Keyte. A man who takes his preambulation quota seriously, he has taken inspiration from the street-style, traditional country-wear and serious outdoor tech that walking folk sport for the AW22 collection.

This celebration of the journey rings true for UW. The 'New Walk Culture Programme’ kickstarts the AW22 season with a call for us all to fling open the door, grab some layers and get roaming. It chimes hard with the late Alfred Wainwright saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather - only unsuitable clothing.” A philosophy of preparation and optimism, it was a great place to start when putting the seasonal mood board together.

Appreciating the process aligns with David Keyte’s mantra for design, which is summed up in one simple sentence: Keep moving, keep improving, keep learning. Shapes for the season have all the recognisable UW hallmarks, with some urban

rambling-friendly additions peppered throughout the collection. Most fabrics tick the UW signature credentials, but now, there’s a considered and serious move towards the use of recycled, organic and sustainable raw materials.

This is all well and good, very good, actually. However, we thought it better to hear from David Keyte himself. For David, the collection incorporates a sense of newness in combination with well versed methods of UW design:

“The collection is bloody brilliant! Maybe in a more humble way I’d say it is more of the same - I think and hope we don’t reinvent our look or our silhouette every season but slowly develop and even improve. There is, perhaps, more texture and colour than some winters - more emphasis on outdoor fabrics - some new shapes, often simplified versions of UW classics, I’m always trying to under design than over design.”

That being said, the process of sourcing material is never easy: “I always struggle to tell fabric agents and the mills I work with what I’m looking for, it tends to follow more of the ‘I know when I see it’ process. I want things of value, from good makers, if possible I want organic or more responsible yarns like hemp or wool. I usually look for durability, but sometimes more delicate things can have a place. Ultimately, I want things to last, they need to look and feel great too.”

A fine combination of quality material and autumnal tone cements the Universal Works AW22 collection as one of this season's strongest.

Shop the AW22 collection at

universal works.co.uk

Universal Works Kyoto Work Jacket In Stone Recycled Columbo Tweed Universal Works Bakers V3 Chore Jacket In Stone Recycled Columbo Tweed

" I think and hope we don’t reinvent our look every season... I’m always trying to under design than over design.

" I think and hope we don’t reinvent our look every season... I’m always trying