Far Afield - An Invitation to Travel

We're going to tell you a little more about Far Afield, and why we love this brand so much at Dapper...

Everything is summed up in their name: Far Afield ; Distant in French. An invitation to travel, a spirit of adventure (or wanderlust in English) for a celebration of cultures from around the world. Get away and travel. A beautiful proposal in these confined times. We all like to leave, to take distance, discover a new world, feel the sun or the sea wind, bask on the beach, drink iced mojitos, or stroll through a museum at the end of the world. 

These are often the images we remember best from these trips: the motifs of a Lisbon tile or the blue of its earthenware, the flowering shirt of a Londoner as he leaves the subway, the acidulous green of the hills of Tuscany... Few men's brands have understood this as well as Far Afield. The expression of colors and patterns on their clothes reflects all these worlds from elsewhere.  

But if the name " Far Afield " evokes distant lands, it can also make us think that we observe this elsewhere from home. And the home, for brothers Mark and Chris Scholes, creators of Far Afield, is England. Originally from Manchester, then immigrants to Brighton, they are now divided between Porto and the English seaside capital. And this British origin is revealed just as much in their creations: iconoclastic, casual, fiercely assumed, festival of colors and materials, and perfect for layering.

The brand was founded in 2006, after several years spent by the two brothers in the design, production and retail of men's clothing (for more than twelve years). They first launch with Tuktuk which will gradually turn into Far Afield. Their vision is to combine their classic textile craftsmanship experiences with a unique design, and a more responsible sourcing of raw materials. True pioneers in this field, they set up a network of suppliers very early on that stretched from Sri Lanka, India, Turkey and Portugal, and where ethical and responsible sourcing issues were central. Create and produce cool clothes, but not at any price for our planet. 

Since then, Far Afield has continued to source ethical products from around the world, using the highest quality materials. From this season, all their cotton and jersey products are part of the Better Coton Initiative (BCI) label. This non-profit non-governmental association promotes better standards in cotton cultivation and practices in 21 countries (and now accounts for 14% of global cotton production). It is recognized worldwide in the supply of sustainable cotton, based on 3 main pillars: the social rights of employees, the local economy and environmental issues. As for the mesh thread, purchased in Turkey or Italy, they comply with all ISO and OEKO-TEX standards. 

And don't talk to them about plastic... all their buds are natural (mother-of-pearl, shell, coconut, wood, corozo etc.). Far Afield also goes further (no pun intended), using recycled polyester this season. Their swimsuits are made from plastic bottles. All bottles labeled with #1 on the bottom have the same chemical composition as polyester known as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) allowing flakes from plastic bottles to be turned into fabric. This polyester fiber is made of 100% recycled plastic.

So all this would of course be great in itself, but it is not enough to make beautiful clothes (and it also counts anyway). But Far Afield managed the small miracle of combining the two. Which is rare enough to be noted. 

With a design influenced by all the cultures that the brothers have discovered around the world, their clothes merge colors and patterns, while remaining classy (we are not at Desigual...). They bring textures and materials up to date (the jersey of their t-shirts, the thick and soft cotton twill of their Worker jacket, the large braided mesh of their sweater, the flannel and linen of their shirts ...) by bringing them a fair contemporary touch. With a design focused on quality, offering elegant and casual clothing (very English in the end), Far Afield never neglects the cut and finish of its creations. From their chinos that fall perfectly (neither too slim nor too wide) to their Worker jackets, square but shortened for a modern touch, to their 2-piece linen suits that are all simply perfect (if you have a wedding this summer, you need it). 

We also love a lot about them, their nostalgia for very marked clothing details, sometimes fallen into disuse, and that they manage to bring up to date with perfection. The rising and flared collar of their shirts, their Chet Baker type knitted polo shirts, their Ivy League sweaters, the small wallet pocket of their pants... And with these details, the circle is closed, we still travel. In a jazz club in Havana, in an alley in Portofino, or on a terrace in August in Saint Germain des Prés. 

the latest Spring-Summer 2020 collection of Far Afield is no exception to their tradition. Entitled "White Island", this men's fashion collection is inspired by the Balearic Islands and Ibiza. There is an eclectic mix of pieces and colors for casual outfits, and summer sophistication. Cottons, twill, linen offer a perfect lightness for men and their spring-summer wardrobes. Using a Palette of Mediterranean colours, the collection takes a nostalgic look at the islands, contrasting rural life in the 1960s with the evolution of Club and Dance culture in the mid-80s. The patterns printed on shirts, t-shirts and swim shorts tell all these stories. With a nod to the culture of Flower Power, the desert and its cacti, nature and its fruit trees and also small coastal villages. Not to mention their Acid Smile badge, present on their t-shirts and polo shirts, which does not need to be explained...  

Playful and subtle references throughout the collection are visible. The light cut and vintage-inspired knitwear meet textured cottons and colorful poplins. The collars are buttoned or open. The polo shirt is worn indented or outright open in vest mode. Perfect to approach the summer with a smile and relaxed. 

As you will have understood, we really like Far Afield at Dapper (and their link with Manchester and Brighton is not for nothing ;). So to restore the image of summer fashion (which rhymes much more often with flip-flops and lycra shorts than moccasins and panamas), we strongly invite you to discover Far Afield and start a beautiful journey (without certificate and geographical limit ...).  

To see their entire collection, it's by HERE

Take care of yourself!