AW10 - nearly there

August is always a strange month. One minute it is weather for shorts, the same day you have to reach for the umbrella and the next minute you wish you had some winter clothes. Well that should soon be over and then we can get down to the best part of the Autumn/Winter season - jackets, knits, layers, boots, accessories. So many great things!

We did a few look shots for a handful of the styles that are coming through this winter, some are taking a cleaner aesthetic with more development in fabrications and cuts after the last 6 months of speaking with customers about what they are wanting and where we want to go with things. The results are the AW10 pieces here and a number that are yet to be shot.

Let the guys know to give you a heads up when the new styles start to drop.

New Balance now in-store!

Our first drop of New Balance styles arrived in July, and we’re thrilled to be working with a brand we’ve long worn. We’ve started with two classic shapes from either end of the NB spectrum, both of which fit in well with our philosophy of Modern Crafted Clothing.

Part of the Made In England line, the 576 is hand made in New Balance’s Cumbrian factory in the North West of England. Originally launched in 1988, we’re stocking the 576 in red and navy suede. Whilst we love the craftsmanship that goes into the Made In England line, we’re also keen to embrace new technologies: the 574 Sonic is a classic silhouette, but the synthetic suede and textile have been heat bonded together, providing a seamless, lightweight sneaker. Both are available in store now.

To get us up to speed on the finer points of the collection, some of the team spent a fun morning with the boys from New Balance – a massive thanks to the guys, and well done to Andy for decimating the field in the 50 meter dash!

A week away

We haven't had much time off this last 12 months, but last week I managed to get away for a week to the coast in Ireland. Graced with good weather it was on the beach each day, getting some cool water swimming in and teaching the dog a few new tricks. Followed up with a barbecue and a cold beer. Back to a rainy UK and some full on weeks whilst we move into our studio.

Ventile Alpine Jacket

Coming through for mid June is the first of our taped Ventile styles. This is our technical climbing jacket shape, panelled and articulated, we have made it so it works on a mountain, waterproof/windproof cotton Ventile. Waterproof RiRi zips, elasticated drawcords at hood and hem.

There is nothing on here that is unnecessary for its purpose and it really works.

It is really the ultimate conclusion to the fishermans cagoule in that it performs properly. Three colours to start with, Orange, Navy and Leather Bronze which is more shade of Olive. Each colourway is in 20 pieces only and they are all made here in England. Price is tbc but no more than £315.

Come and join us for a drink!

Well we have been open for 3 weeks now and thought it time that we had a little celebration at 286 Upper Street. Come along on the 5th May from 7pm and meet our ever growing team and no doubt some friendly faces.

As the space is smaller than our Commercial Street store you will have to send your name to:

rsvp@albamclothing.com

We don't like people being turned away but we aren't too keen on playing sardines aswell!

See you there.

Cafe Kick

An informal tournament (of sorts) was held at Cafe Kick on Shoreditch High Street the other night. Table football is for some a way of life, for Albam it needs a bit more work!

A good evening with a great bunch of people.

More tokens please!

286 Upper St

286 Upper Street - Now Open

Bank Holiday Monday, we have finally opened our doors to our Islington branch of Albam. These pics were taken on Friday in the build up to the opening as I had to get back up North. Store is looking really good, but it will take a few weeks for us to bed into the new area and for Andy our man on the ground to get his feet under the table.

There are no parties just yet as we like to get settled before we do but there will be one I am sure!

More pics to follow.

The hard work begins!

We have had a great opportunity present itself to us in the last few months. A new store! We are planning to give it a go and the work started today.

The space stays true to the things that we stand for both visually and location wise whilst enabling us to improve what we do for our customers without having to join forces with others to compromise what we do.

Our small team have set to work and we will be updating the progress along the way. As Easter is coming it gives us a little more time than we usually give ourselves.

An opening date hasn't been given yet but when we know we will put it up here and some other places. Thanks for all your support and see you soon.

The Irwin Shawl Collar Cardigan

Our latest shawl collar cardigan arrived in a couple of weeks ago and I have just got round to posting this piece (an awful lot is happening behind the scenes at Albam, more of that later). We spent the day at one of our knitwear factories working on the finishing touches to the AW10 range and I took these pics of the machine that has just created our Irwin Shawl Collar Cardi.

Seeing one of the ladies knit this piece is something of a wonder. Due to the quality of the yarn and the tension we have wanted to give the piece it has to be knitted on a hand machine rather than a power machine. What this ultimately means is you get a lot of work for your money and if I am honest much more than the value of the garment due to the time and skill it takes to make one piece. They are selling super quickly, and I know we dropped off a small number of the navy version to Oi Polloi last week, of which they only have sizes 1 and 2 remaining.

A great piece of knitwear and something that marks the start of a new level of input for Albam,