Escapes: The Burberry Autumn/Winter 2021 Menswear is Longing for the Great Outdoors

 

 

The Burberry Autumn/Winter 2021 menswear honours a deep connection to the outdoors. The new Riccardo Tisci collection offers a fresh perspective to the classics – the trench coat, tailoring and Burberry beige.

Tied intrinsically to founder Thomas Burberry’s creations, the idea of optimism and adventure underscores the Burberry Autumn/Winter 2021 menswear collection presented during London Fashion Week. Riccardo Tisci was inspired by explorers, pioneers and trailblazers. According to Burberry, the garments represent a reality but they are always worn by dreamers.

The presentation of the Burberry Autumn/Winter 2021 menswear collection by Riccardo Tisci explores a new environment within Burberry’s flagship Regent Street store in London – the space was reconfigured as a wandering terrain.

The menswear collection gently challenges and subtly reinvents traditions, inviting freedom of expression. The collection itself is dynamic and young. Outerwear is key. Clothes are engineered to reflect motion and activity – with pleats, panels and fringes – as if moving in the wind. Layered pieces morph unexpectedly on the body. Tailoring has a sense of twisted classicism, whilst Burberry’s quintessential house codes – the trench coat and Burberry beige – are evolved.

‘For my first Burberry menswear-focused collection, I wanted to celebrate the freedom of expression. Enclosed indoors, I dreamt of the outdoors and its beauty, fuelled by the thought of the creativity that comes when we are together.

With this dream in mind, I became fascinated by the widespread British craft and outdoor movements of the early 20th Century, when people escaped to explore the unknown countryside. They formed communities with a deep respect for nature and the outdoors and looked forward to a future full of possibility. I was not only drawn to the artistry of their craft, colours and shapes, but also to their strong sense of camaraderie and friendship.

This collection is an homage to the relationship between humanity and nature, where we can break free and come together to discover new forms of expression. It’s for those who are defining their own path, whose strength and energy have inspired this Burberry collection.’ – Riccardo Tisci, Burberry Chief Creative Officer.

Riccardo invited British music supervisor, composer and arranger, Bridget Samuels, to collaborate as the Executive Music Producer for the Autumn/Winter 2021 menswear presentation soundtrack. Together, Riccardo and Bridget commissioned British composer and multi-instrumentalist, Peter Gregson, to create a reworking of his composition ‘Sequence (Four)’ exclusively for the presentation.

The Burberry animal kingdom, a signature house code, is once again revisited through prints and shapes – a nod to the wilderness and the creatures within. Deer motifs inspire the silhouettes of knitted beanies, whilst boots and sneakers on moulded soles are also sculpted to resemble hooves. The collection’s distinct palette is tonal and rich, including Burberry beige, bark brown, oxblood burgundy, city greys and shirting shades of pale blue and pink. Details and decoration evoke the notion of ceremony through badges and adornments – symbolising community and friendship, codes of belonging.

The presentation location itself has a rich history of supporting craftsmanship and artistic expression: historically, 121 Regent Street was the site of an eminent gallery with its inaugural exhibition dedicated to arts and crafts. This legacy is honoured, as the menswear collection was exhibited through a modern presentation in this same environment.

Burberry’s carbon neutral fashion events.

To support Burberry’s ambition to achieve a net-zero future, this presentation as well as all Burberry events, were certified carbon neutral. To achieve this, measures were taken to reduce the environmental impact of the event before offsetting any remaining emissions through Burberry’s Regeneration Fund. Through the Burberry Regeneration Fund, Burberry supports a portfolio of carbon insetting and offsetting projects mapped to the footprint of its business. Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, these programmes are helping restore natural habitats and biodiversity, improving carbon capture and enhancing local communities with skills and training.