If you ever snuck round the bike sheds for a between-class ciggie in Britain any time between the ‘80s and early 2000s, chances are you did it in a pair of Farahs. Usually black, sharply pressed (if you had a loving mother), and often worn by the kids you were slightly wary of, Farah was as much a part of the British playground as the scuffed Mitre you launched at your mates’ backsides every lunchtime. Usually paired with Rockports or Air Max if you fancied yourself as a bit of a hardcase, Farah was a quiet constant of British adolescence.
This adoption in British playgrounds could lead you to think Farah was founded in a dreary settlement somewhere off the M6, but that’s not the case. The brand actually started life creating workwear for hardy Texan men who washed down their cornflakes with a cup of diesel.
Now, a century on from its American beginnings and forty years from its British adoption, Farah is stepping back into its own history with a 16-piece capsule called The Archive. The collection observes and reinterprets designs from its 100-year legacy, which is pretty exciting stuff if you ask us – until now, we’ve only seen glimpses of the brand’s vaults through collaborations with YMC, Bianca Saunders, and Martine Rose, but this time, Farah’s done it themselves.
The collection effortlessly hops through decades while maintaining a sense of continuity: from double-kneed denim built for ‘50s graft to the Hopsack Slacks of the ‘70s – the ones pressed sharp by West Indian communities in London – to the terrace knitwear that became a uniform of the 1980s. Each piece feels familiar but refreshed, like bumping into a classmate who has since learnt how to use an iron.
Highlights (in our humble opinion) include the Pendale Hopsack Jacket, a revived 1970s Western silhouette with pearl snaps and a wide collar that nods back to Farah’s American roots. The Carranza V-Neck Jumper, made in Italy from a rich wool blend with an all-over jacquard. And the Montwood Corduroy Western Shirt reworks another ‘70s classic with subtle cowboy charm.
For decades, Farah has been the quiet thread running through British subculture – adopted, adapted, reinterpreted and deeply loved. With The Archive, it’s documenting that legacy & passion while proving it’s not just a brand you reminisce about with old friends.
The Farah Archive Collection is available to shop now from farah.co.uk
