Fashion
Knits, hats, gloves, backpacks — everything you need for an Arctic winter, plus retailers and labels to watch
Made for men
Toronto
Just steps away from the glitzy Yorkville neighbourhood in Toronto sits Working Title, a new menswear shop for those who appreciate a little substance with their style. “There’s a focus on the contemporary and the progressive,” says co-owner Paul Shkordoff of Working Title’s underlying philosophy.
“We work with brands that prioritise shape and form, with a nod towards subtlety.” In addition to classic menswear items from Alden, Gitman Brothers Vintage and Homespun Knitwear, customers will also find pieces from more refined brands such as Patrik Ervell, Engineered Garments and Svensson. The upper floor, with its stark white walls, minimalist displays and high ceilings sits in contrast to the lower level’s expertly curated bookshop and photography gallery.
workingtitleshop.com
Best buys
1.
Unlined Chukkas by Alden
2.
Chinos by Unis
3.
Knit baseball jacket by Patrik Ervell
4.
Round collar shirt by Engineered Garments
5.
Tee by Etudes Studio x Osma Harvilahti
Make a market
Reykjavík
At the heart of Reykjavík’s fishpacking district, in a former fish factory, sits Farmers and Friends – a new flagship store for knitwear mavericks Farmers Market. Established in 2005 by musician Jóel Pálsson and his designer wife Bergthora Gudnadottir, Farmers Market set out to create a modern fashion brand inspired by Icelandic roots, using natural materials – particularly the fuzzy wool of the local sheep. “It was definitely not hip to be using Icelandic wool in 2005,” Jóel says.
“Everything was about globalisation and taking over the world. But we wanted customers to see our products and think, this has to be Scandinavian.” Farmers Market has expanded to silk dresses, trousers and British-style wax jackets. “The first thing to do was to reinvent the Icelandic sweater but we have been building around that,” says Jóel.
farmersmarket.is
Retail therapy
London
Working with London-based interior designer Morse Studio to create a “rough and yet luxurious” environment, Tena Strok opened her Celestine Eleven concept shop in June. The roomy modernist space in Shoreditch combines untreated plaster walls and reclaimed wood counters with sleek shelves and furniture.
Dresses by Meadham Kirchhoff and Marios Schwab, tops by Rika and knitwear by Theyskens’ Theory barely have time to hang on copper-plated pipes before they are snapped up. The library and apothecary sections have titles on cooking, photography and fashion or skincare by Alexandra Soveral and Sort of Coal. “We want to pair focused fashion and elements of alternate living,” explains Strok, whose shop also offers alternative therapies such as Reiki massage sessions.
celestineeleven.com
Suunto
Vantaa, Finland
Established in 1936 by Finnish orienteer Tuomas Vohlonen, Suunto watches are a must for explorers. The latest Ambit2 has a GPS with a heart-rate monitor, weather functions and a battery that lasts for 50 hours.
Modern knits
Aran islands
Inis Meáin Knitting Co makes luxury Aran sweaters drawing from the Irish island’s generations of weaving expertise. It reinterprets stitches once used in fishermen’s garments while using the softest wool and cashmere yarns; the result is a modern knitwear collection. This vibrant piece will fare you well through winter.
inismeain.ie
Majestic mud
Cordova, Alaska
It was after a rafting trip in the Alaskan wilderness that Lauren Padawer decided to hand-harvest mineral mud from the Copper River Delta in the southeast of the state. The composition of the substance deposed there, she says, is the most diverse in the world thanks to the region’s volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Founded in 2006, Padawer’s Alaska Glacial Mud skincare brand offers a line of face and body exfoliating masks and soap bars.
alaskaglacialmud.com
Flash pack
Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Fjällräven, a household name in Sweden, is the go-to choice for heavy-duty backpacks. Its classic model is made from strong, waxed G-1,000 fabric (courtesy of the brand) with leather trimmings and comes with pockets for a thermos anda laptop.
fjallraven.com
Icy outings
Avesta, Sweden
Swedish brand Haglöfs has been making mountaineering equipment and clothing for almost a century. Today it is the largest supplier of Scandinavian outdoor gear. This waterproof Triton II Hood fleece comes with reinforced hood, shoulders, hem and back and is the perfect layer for icy outings.
haglofs.com
Cold comfort
Milan
Milan-based outerwear producer Moncler has partnered with Japan’s White Mountaineering to produce Moncler W – a collection of signature items for the harshest winter. The line uses cotton-nylon blend chambray and jacquards and features wave-shaped padded details with woven Fair Isle wool inserts.
moncler.com
Dizzy heights
Caslano
To mark the 60th anniversary of Mount Everest’s first ascent, Swiss shoe manufacturer Bally has launched an Everest capsule collection. It features an updated version of the Bally Reindeer-Himalaya boots worn by Tenzing Norgay in 1953. They have a double-stitch construction and lightweight molded lug sole.
bally.com
Checked out
Stockholm
Mats Andersson and Johan Söderlun founded Indigofera Jeans in 2009. Specialising in denim, the Stockholm-based brand now also offers blankets, cotton shirts and T-shirts. Featured here in sturdy red and black-chequered cotton selvedge flannel, this Norris shirt will last for winters to come.
indigoferajeans.com
Wrap up
Lielax, Finland
Tjockt’s scarves are all hand-knitted in Finland using high-quality merino or alpaca wool. To keep warm during winter nights, Monocle has opted for the “Wild and Woolly” – a cosy and versatile scarf that comes in light grey, white and dusty rose. Tjockt takes pride in using all natural materials.
tjockt.com
