13/09/2007 I know it. You know it. Baggy is back, people. Led by Klaxons, Hadouken! et al, the Nu-Rave kids are takin’ over, and there’s nothing that the gloomy old indie folk can do about it. It all seemed to reach an apex at the O2 festival in Hyde Park in June. Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, Calvin Harris, Klaxons, CSS, New Young Pony Club: the day-glo kiddies were out in force, and what a sight it was…
But if smiley badges and neon face paint are just a little too much – and let’s face it, unless you’re about 15 years old, it’s all a bit embarrassing – then Bench is the brand for you. Always known for its exciting collaborations, Bench’s latest collection is bang on. For the SS07 collection, the brand have enlisted none other than prominent design collective Central Station. Central Station is the design team behind iconic album covers for the likes of Black Grape and Happy Mondays. They also designed for Factory Records, the Hacienda Club, and Steve Coogan’s film 24 Hour Party People. Nobody has better “Mad-chester” rock-rave credentials.
The Central Station for Bench designs are a riot of clashing colours, pop culture references and cut-and-paste aesthetics. Designers Matt and Pat Carroll and Karen Jackson have revivified their signature style for this exciting and unique collaboration. Central Station has always been about doing their own thing and staying consistently innovative: “I don’t think we have a formula” explains Matt. “We just approach every design totally differently.” For their work with the Happy Mondays (Matt and Pat are cousins of Shaun Ryder, by the way) Central Station were very careful in their use of imagery. They avoided pictures of the band and incorporated very little, if any, text. “We wanted people to be able to spot a Mondays record from 250 paces, in the middle of 500, 600 records,” Matt continues.
The same desire to stand out from the crowd distinguishes the work of Central Station for Bench from that of other casual-wear collaborations. This is the first time that they have produced designs with no direct relation to music, and it is exclusive to Bench. This is entirely fitting given Bench’s ability to maintain its identity in the face of massive competition in the men’s casual-wear market. Whilst other big names in graphic casual-wear have fallen by the wayside or drifted towards the mundane, Bench has remained at the top through a combination of a commitment to quality, an understanding of its customer base, and the ability to remain consistently surprising and innovative.
With enough bright colours to interest the trendies, and signature Bench detailing to keep the casual-wear aficionados happy, this is some collection. Bench has long been known for an almost obsessive attention to detail and this latest collaboration is no different: hoodies come in great fits with asymmetric zip-detailing, shorts are bright and bold, and t-shirts feature chopper bikes, toy soldiers and red Indians. This is a collection to remind even the most gnarled of old ravers of their innocent halcyon childhood. For women, hoodies have branded metal eyelets, vibrant Central Station linings and zipped side pockets. T-shirts come fitted, with small printed pockets and collar trim, and cotton shorts feature printed draw-cords and curved appliqué text.
If you’re heading to the festivals this summer, and want to be out-standing in your field (ho ho) or if you’re simply staying put in the city, Bench is certainly the brand to be seen in. And, with Central Station’s amazing designs and Bench’s attention to detail and quality, trust me, you will be seen.
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