DANIEL W Fletcher, one of the most exciting, attention-demanding designers in the realm of menswear, has just debuted his first-ever womenswear collection as part of London’s digital-only fashion week.
The 18 looks, presented as a lookbook shot at Fletcher’s London studio, were modelled by twin transgender models and TikTok stars Maddie and Margot Whitley.
Daniel W Fletcher AW21
Fletcher, who founded his eponymous label after graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2015, has been expanding his womenswear offering season-on-season for quite some time now. AW21 marks the first time that the designer has showcased a collection under the womenswear umbrella, satisfying the appetite of his ever-growing clientele and pushing both himself and the five-year-old brand into new territory.
Daniel W Fletcher AW21
Imbued with a feeling of both freshness and familiarity, Fletcher’s first foray into womenswear is littered with signature tropes and design details while drawing on equestrian and military attire to bring a precise yet gritty edge to the collection.
Slim-cut merino wool tailoring – lifted from the brand’s archive – has been reworked and cinched with bold utilitarian belts and came paired with Fletcher’s ubiquitous split-hem trousers in strict monochrome shades.
Daniel W Fletcher AW21
The unwavering colour palette softened with the appearance of an umber-brown hourglass lambskin riding jacket and a ribbed knit layered under crisp sandy shirting.
Daniel W Fletcher AW21
In homage to the great women of the early Noughties, a sharp-shouldered tailored coat nodded to the wardrobe of the Princess of Wales, while pleated kilts – worn over trousers – saw Fletcher blur the lines between menswear and womenswear.
Daniel W Fletcher AW21
Following on from his recent collections, Fletcher further emphasised his commitment to sustainability by recycling leftover fabrics – this being most evident in an asymmetric checkered dress, patched together with scraps rescued from the factory floor.
Daniel W Fletcher AW21
A strong first outing for Fletcher, his inaugural womenswear collection struck a flawless balance between honouring the heritage of British craftsmanship with his label’s playful originality that we’ve all come to know and love.
by Joshua Hendren