What is a Practical Shirt, According to Them?

Each year, Margaret Howell invites a designer she admires to create a shirt for the "MARGARET HOWELL PLUS" series. The first was Kenneth Grange, active at the world-renowned London design studio Pentagram. The second was Sam Hecht, who has also undertaken design projects for Japanese brands. Both were experts in industrial design.

For the third collaboration, Margaret chose garden designer Dan Pearson. "Dan was keen to design a practical shirt. He incorporated generous gussets at the cuffs for easy sleeve rolling and a spacious inverted pleat at the back for ease of movement. And a convenient hanging loop. The two large pockets are for Dan's penknife and pencils. When the top button is undone and the collar is relaxed, the stitching reinforcing the collar is revealed, showing another hidden detail. Dan is interested in those aspects of clothing, not just his own work. The result of the design collaboration is—a work shirt," he explained, detailing his considerations.

Relaxation Born from a Deep Respect for Materials

Margaret then focused on "materials," a key element in Dan's work, and recommended two suppliers with whom she has worked for many years to produce materials made in the UK. She selected undyed natural linen shirt fabric, woven by Spence Bryson in Northern Ireland, and buffalo horn buttons made by James Grove in the West Midlands.





Just as the textures and landscaping of a garden enhance each other, Margaret and Dan felt that the natural qualities of the materials complemented one another. "What I seek in a shirt is something I can also feel in Dan's landscaping. Please enjoy the relaxation that comes from inspiration, editing, and a deep respect for materials." This is the third model in the MARGARET HOWELL PLUS shirt series. It certainly suits the current season.