Inspired by fragments of clothing from an Everest expedition, preserved for nearly 80 years

Did you like the shop, THE ARMY GYM - Nigel Cabourn?

—Yes. It’s exactly as you described, Nigel, a “small shop with a strong concept.”

Thank you.

—This season, in addition to this flagship store, you’ve increased your stockists, including Beams Plus and Isetan Shinjuku Men’s Building. How do you feel about that?

My brand’s collections are meticulously crafted, especially the “Authentic Line,” which is made in old-fashioned factories in Britain that can’t do mass production. This gives them a unique quality, but it also means small production runs. I want Nigel Cabourn to be an exclusive brand, so I’m a little hesitant about increased exposure.

—What is the theme of this season’s collection?

Actually, the Royal Geographical Society of Britain learned about my research and collection of military wear archives and invited me to their institute. There, I was able to see fragments of clothing belonging to George Herbert Leigh Mallory, who participated in an Everest expedition in the 1920s, disappeared near the summit during the 1924 expedition, and whose body was discovered in 1999. They had remained preserved for nearly 80 years. Seeing them made me want to focus on a mountain theme.

—Mallory is someone whose claim to be the first to summit Everest is still debated today, isn't he?

That’s right. Mallory and his climbing partner Andrew Irvine, and then Sir Edmund Hillary, the leader of the British expedition that first summited Everest in 1953. For this season’s LIMITED EDITION of Nigel Cabourn, I chose Hillary and ANTARCTICA as the theme.

—What aspects of it interested you?

Hillary customized military uniforms from World War II for his summit attempt. I became interested in their functionality, which led me to research vintage collections. The authenticity of the fabrics and the functionality of the details are very intriguing.



—Could you tell us about your approach to making clothes?

For each collection, I start by thinking of a new theme and concept. However, it’s also very important to update and refine designs from previous seasons; that’s also a characteristic of my design process.

—The “ANTARCTICA PARKA,” a completely bespoke item for Beams Plus, is a prime example of this, isn't it?

Yes. The MALLORY JACKET is another. I want to make them better, more comfortable, and evolve designs I truly love from the past.

—We’re looking forward to the 2010 Spring/Summer collection too!