Thomas Pink's AW2015 collection marks milestone in wholesale business

It is of course not unusual to see good-looking men having a good time at their favourite drinkery.  But look closely and you’ll notice this is no ordinary bar.

It is in fact the setting for presenting the London-inspired autumn/Winter 15 Collection of British shirt  maker Thomas Pink, which was unveiled earlier this week at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, as part of London Collections: Men.  

The collection was presented against the backdrop of a 30ft ‘long bar’ constructed entirely out of paper. The bar was built using crisp white 315gsm Kendal Manilla paper manufactured by James Cropper, the unique setup provided the perfect blank canvas for the brand’s expanding ready to wear offering. 

Blurring the boundaries between tradition and technology - paper and digital - guests were invited to leave ‘off the cuff’ written reviews on the paper bar using pink pens, which could then be shared via social media.

Each model bartender and punter showcased a different ‘Pink’ look.  Included in this season’s model line-up was Thom Evans (far right in picture above - the former Scottish international rugby union player and contestant of popular reality BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.)

Florence Torrens, Creative Director at Thomas Pink, says; “Shirts will always be at the heart of what we do, but they inspire other pieces to complete the look.  At Thomas Pink we’re broadening our offer to include more tailoring, outerwear and knitwear. To highlight this we worked with James Cropper - the oldest traditional paper mill in the UK - and Flow Creation - a group of highly skilled paper architects - to build an installation echoing the blank canvas of a white shirt. Inspired by the architecture of the ICA building itself, we re-created elements of the room in paper to embellish the bar.”

Frederik Willems, Head of Design at Thomas Pink, says; “Autumn/Winter 15 is inspired by a heady mix of London’s well known landmarks, motifs and characters. From Sir Michael Caine in the 1971 film ‘Get Carter’, to The Coach and Horses pub in Soho, we’ve drawn upon urban influences to create a collection which is daringly bold and eclectic in style. We’ve played with weaves and texture to develop solid colours with subtle design features and added intrigue. Checks and herringbone play a pivotal role throughout.”

Guests and models enjoyed cocktails mixed by Pontoon, made using Hennessy Fine de Cognac and garnished with paper foxes, whilst listening to British classics from The Clash, The Rolling Stones and Pulp. Continuing the iconic London theme, models wore Dr. Martens tasselled loafers.

Thomas Pink’s London presentation precedes its debut at Pitti Uomo currently held in Florence and subsequently Premium International Fashion Trade Show in Berlin.

The brand’s presence in these trade shows marks its move into key European territories and can be cited as a significant milestone in Thomas Pink’s development as a wholesale business.