In the conversation of perennial Proper brands, Albam’s name should come right at the very top. It’s a label we used to rave about no end on here, but the eagle eyed if you will notice that it’s been a while since Albam’s name and their brightly coloured outerwear has appeared anywhere near our home page.
Truthfully, we just lost track of the brand. A bit like how old friends can grow distant for no reason whatsoever. But fortunately, Albam has proven to be one of those friends you can reconnect with after a long hiatus, and it’s like nothing ever changed.
The brand returns to our homepage with news of their latest AW26 release – a collection that proves Albam is very much back to their best. One that refines the sort of casual menswear that made us fall in love with the brand in the first place, while going in a few new directions too.
As always with Albam, AW26 sees the brand look towards relaxed tailoring to make up the bulk of the collection. A usual slew of Oxford Shirts in attractive hues of washed blue and desaturated pink, are accompanied by thicker flannel options in the Kennedy Check Flannel and Islington Check Pocket Shirt – solid layering pieces waiting on standby for the inevitable cold temperatures that lie just around the corner.
Naturally, as a publication that hates rugby but loves rugby shirts, we were instantly drawn to Albam’s new Walsall Rugby shirt. We’re not entirely sure the connection to the Staffordshire town is immediately obvious, but what is obvious is that the brand has nailed the kind of garment that looks as though it could have been plucked straight from a private-school boy’s locker in 1983. A perfect fit, with just the right amount of fading.
Turning our heads in the direction of outerwear, AW26 sees the introduction of the Dudley Zip Through Fleece as well as a Washed Twill Jacket available in either faded brown or deep navy – both oozing with patina right out of the packet.
And the beauty of Albam’s AW26 collection doesn’t end at the clothing – the campaign imagery is just as pretty. British photographer John Spinks travelled from London to Região do Norte, Portugal to shoot 35mm around the the factories that have been making Albam for close to two decades, turning his lens to the people and processes behind the clothes.
To surmise – AW26 feels like something of a home coming for Albam – back to their best, back to their factories in Portugal, and all importantly back to our homepage.
Find out more about Albam’s AW26 release at albamclothing.com
