River Island to launch YMC collection

Fashion retailer River Island is launching a collaborative collection with YMC (You Must Create) to celebrate the designer label’s 20th anniversary, as part of the British Fashion Council-backed Design Forum programme.

The 15-piece collection features products based on the YMC archive spanning casualwear, outerwear and accessories, including a zip front jumper from the label’s debut catwalk outing a decade ago, a pac-a-mac from 2001, an update of its skate pants from 2015, and a re-issue of the brand’s baseball shirt from its spring/summer 2015 line.

Other pieces include a double zip jacket from 2006, a rib collar shirt from 2009, the brand’s signature star ‘Sabbath’ knit from 2003, and a slit-pocket T-shirt from 2013 that will be available in khaki and yellow with contrasting orange slit pockets.

YMC founder and creative director, Fraser Moss, said: “We had never worked with a high street brand before, but when the opportunity came to work with River Island we were confident it would be the right move. Our loyal following and heritage, combined with River Island’s global audience made for the perfect partnership.

“When it came to designing the collection we wanted to not only ensure that the River Island man was always front of mind, but also to create a collection that was true to the YMC DNA. River Island not only allowed us the creative freedom to do so, which we felt was very important, but also offered their expertise to bring a new point of view.”

The collection will hit selected stores and online from early June to coincide with London Collections: Men, with prices ranging from 22 to 160 pounds, and will be celebrated with a short film that will premiere alongside other films at the London Collections: Men Fashion Film event.

The River Island Design Forum has championed a number of homegrown labels including Christopher Shannon, Lou Dalton, Sibling, Eudon Choi and Georgia Hardinge.

Sketches: Courtesy of River Island