Folk, one of the finest and most authentic British brands, should hold permanent residence in your wardrobe and founder Cathal McAteer is here to tell you why.
Despite claiming his first nickname in fashion to be ‘Trampy’ - due to his expensive clothes looking a bit dishevelled when worn - Cathal has become one of the most influential British designers of a generation. But most importantly, much like the aesthetic of his brand, he has made it appear entirely natural.
Having previously launched the Creators Series for OPUMO, Cathal has since consolidated Folk's reputation as one of the most trusted and versatile menswear brands through the release of the latest Spring/Summer 2016 collection.
To mark the occasion, we caught up with Cathal to learn the style rules he lives by in order to create the perfect seasonal look. The result, is an outfit that is comfortable, stylish and adaptable to help you survive the decidedly indecisive nature of spring, day in; day out.
Discover the details of the Edit and find out how you can win the entire contents of the outfit in our exclusive OPUMO x Folk competition below.
“I’ve bust my balls to get one of these for all my friends” exclaims Cathal at the mere mention of the Rab Jacket, before he goes on to explain – “it’s such a classic silhouette that it can suit all shapes and sizes and so it simply looks great on anyone that wears it.” Inspired by the traditional Harrington, the Rab has been updated through Folk’s flair for discrete and functional detailing while the ripstop cotton construction makes for a “super lightweight, comfortable and versatile layering option through spring,” as Cathal goes on to say.
Yellow Chunky Direction Sweater
The dulcet Yellow hue is seen throughout Folk’s SS16 collection and this Chunky Direction Sweater is one of the defining pieces. “This year we went for a clean aesthetic with simple shapes and timeless appeal. We kept the collection light with pops of sun kissed colour like this Yellow Chunky Sweater. The warm drop of colour makes for a nice combination against the more tailored feel and tone of the Rab Jacket. For one, the simple, chunky knit makes for a healthy-stretch that not only provides comfort but a bit of warmth too, and when you’re originally from Scotland like me, you always need a bit of that.”
We have been massive advocators of these Drawcord Trousers for a while now; for one giving them their own exclusive Style Icon feature and two, for dubbing them the ‘greatest gift to menswear’. An opinion that Cathal, albeit much more modestly, shares. “They’re slightly a strange one, they’ve been around for years but have only been reserved by many for the weekend and that’s all changed now. They’re a bestseller because they are just so comfortable you know, they go with anything too- you can just throw them on knowing they’re going to look good and be ever so comfortable. And at this time of year that’s all you need.”
It’s been said time and time again, but a wardrobe is not complete without a reliable selection of luxury essentials and that is precisely the category that this White NEP T-Shirt falls into. “It’s just a classic fit that’s comfortable and perfect for layering through spring. When you layer up it’s best, I think anyway, to stay just lose and easy as style is all about feeling comfortable at the end of the day. Especially for me, I cycle a lot and with three kids, there has to be a functionality element to my outfits. That’s why this T-Shirt is just so perfect; everyone should have one.
"Overall I just think this outfit is just clean and simple. It shows a style that is kind of lose and easy and that you don’t care too much – and I think that’s the secret to it all.”
To complete the outfit, we chose the Navy Houston Slip-On sneakers from No.288; a lightweight, easy-to-wear silhouette made popular by the brand's trademark tan stitch detailed seams and Roman numerals to the heel. To win the sneakers alongside the entire contents of the edit click the link below.
In the meantime, you can shop the outfit along with the rest of the Folk collection online now at OPUMO.
Be sure to check out our ultimate guide to men’s trainers.
