Undoubtedly, one of the biggest talents in menswear is London-based designer, Daniel W. Fletcher. In 2015, upon his graduation from Central Saint Martins, Fletcher launched his eponymous label after gaining valuable industry experience at the houses of Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Lanvin. Since the brand’s launch, Fletcher has received numerous accolades from a nomination for the LVMH Prize in 2017 to recently being named one of British GQ’s Men Of The Year. I first discovered Daniel’s brand inside Opening Ceremony’s former NYC flagship (RIP) after a referral from Alexander Roth, a Friend of FMF who has collected a variety of pieces from Fletcher. Once Netflix launched their fashion design/reality show “Next In Fashion”, in which Fletcher placed second in the series finale, awareness of the designer as a force to be reckoned with was further solidified. This year also marks Fletcher’s first year as the artistic director of Italian-based label Fiorucci, and will allow the designer to expand their menswear offerings. Daniel learned of Fashion Moves Forward in January during Paris Fashion Week, when we visited his showroom and were able to chat further about his inspirations and favorite pieces to create. With an emphasis on modern men’s tailoring, Fletcher has been able to craft classic pieces in a variety of unique fabrics that have deep personal ties to the designer from season-to-season. That said, Fletcher’s S/S21 collection, “Paint It Black”, (a nod to The Rolling Stones, who Fletcher remembers watching as a child with his father in Manchester) - takes deep personal notes from the music icons of the 60’s & 70’s - think Mick Jagger & David Bowie. Fletcher designed this collection with music in mind due to the effect COVID-19 has had on artists’ inability to tour - an element of music that so many people miss. Offering split hemmed trousers, silk shirts with matching ties & bow ties, and a rich blue pallet of sharp modern tailoring - Fletcher has been able to capture that allure of the modern dandy by incorporating Bowie-like styling which connects the past to the present. Fletcher’s reflection on his collection is likely to strike a chord with most come S/S21 “[...] I think we’ll all be wanting a bit of glamour by then.”

Additionally, Fletcher has also crafted 1 of 1 quilted patchwork blankets, shirts, and shorts that are made entirely of leftover scraps of fabric that date back to the brand’s first days in 2015. Each piece is unique and created with sustainability in mind, meant to re-incorporate any fabric that has gone unused over the years. As the industry continues to stray from the traditional seasonal calendar as the business models began to shift - Fletcher has also adapted to release pieces as the season calls for. In full, Daniel W. Fletcher continues to impress us through his particular approach to classic pieces and his personal design ethos, one which is charming, genuine, and above all else unwavering. Be sure to swipe through his S/S21 collection and shop his current F/W20 Collection.