Hunter Original A/W 2014
The name is synonymous with Britain's most famous wet-weather Wellingtons, to the point where the brand is often substituted for the article. In fact, there aren't many home-county residences that don't have a permanent line-up of Hunters next to their front doors; a legacy that the brand's new creative director Alasdhair Willis was only too aware of going into his first catwalk presentation for A/W 2014. In the basement of the University of Westminster, the former Wallpaper* alumni, set the scene with a waterlogged runway, complete with semi-submerged Birch trees. The message was immediately clear, if we'd worn our Hunters, we could have splashed straight to our seats, rather than waiting to be ushered over bridges. But then that was part of Wills' first task: to avoid alienating the heritage brand's past, while mapping out its global future. After all, Willis is catering to both the farm owners, as well as the Primrose Hill weekend ramblers. And so he began by elevating the iconic welly into a heeled boot, and then championing the brand's pioneering spirit with a re-mastered outerwear expedition starting with festival-ready waterproof anoraks, and moving through rubberised trenches, toggle-fastened Paddington Bear coats, quilted hunting jackets, scuba bombers, and flap-pocketed utility jackets to silver après-ski puffers. The show was an all-weather adventure in high-tech fabrications and British wit (thanks to pom-pom balaclavas), and was perfectly timed considering much of England is currently under water. Extending the sentiment, the finale looks then fittingly faded back into the wooded environment behind a mesh screen. It was the perfect metaphor for a brand that has kept man, and country, moving - no matter the weather extremes - for well over the past 150 years.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
'Refined, serene, provocative': inside the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025
We visit the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, open from now until the end of May, and explore a nimble curation that juxtaposes the ancient and the contemporary
By Harriet Quick Published
-
Mushroom beta-glucans are a hero ingredient for French skincare brand Verdoie
Mushroom beta-glucans are new French skincare and supplement brand Verdoie’s hero ingredient. Laura Feinstein speaks to its founder Sonia Gaillis-Delepine to find out why
By Laura Feinstein Published
-
Bulgari’s new exhibition pays homage to the snake in culture, art and jewellery
The high jewellery maison celebrates the Chinese zodiac in ‘Serpenti Infinito’, a Shanghai exhibition that traces how the symbol of the serpent has manifested throughout history
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Inside Louis Vuitton’s Murakami London pop-up, a colourful cartoon wonderland with one-of-a-kind café
Wallpaper* takes a tour of the Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up in London’s Soho, which celebrates the launch of a new ‘re-edition’ accessories collection spanning the greatest hits from the Japanese artist’s long-running collaboration with the house
By Jack Moss Published
-
Get to know Issey Miyake’s innovative A-POC ABLE line as it arrives in the UK
As A-POC ABLE Issey Miyake launches in London this week, designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae gives Wallpaper* the lowdown on the experimental Issey Miyake offshoot
By Jack Moss Published
-
Margaret Howell London Fashion Week Women's S/S 2019
By Dal Chodha Published
-
London Fashion Week S/S 2023: Ahluwalia to Martine Rose
Though slimmed-down, London Fashion Week nonetheless provided the moments of creative expression the city is known for – from Ahluwalia’s ode to Africa to Martine Rose’s much-anticipated runway return
By Jack Moss Last updated
-
Discover these fashion brands at London Craft Week
During London Craft Week, fashion brands including Smythson, Bally and Serapian are hosting events across the capital
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Nicholas Daley's multicultural roots celebrated in London
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
V&A spotlights the sartorial and social significance of the kimono
For the latest endeavour of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk explores the evolution of the iconic Japanese garment
By Grace Cook Last updated
-
Erdem A/W 2020 London Fashion Week Women's
By Laura Hawkins Last updated