《6 Minutes @ Neil Barrett》

Neil Barrett, an Englishman put down his roots in a foreign land in Fucecchio near Florence, Italy. After graduated from the Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, he began his career growing up with major brands, Gucci, Prada and companies where he acquired a deep knowledge of the luxury fashion market and its dynamic, especially with regards to menswear. known for his street-inspired styling, bringing together minimalistic, urban clothing and meticulous finesse in tailoring, Neil stood with his signature black in white mix & match chic masculine look in his Hong Kong store which was styled minimalist, black & white, urban futuristic and co-designed with renown architect Zaha Hadid. He talks to mylifestylenews about his Menswear SS2012 collection with full passion and most enthusiastic manners......

I began to design fashion apparel for more than 2 decades now as both of my grandfather and great-grandfather were master tailors. Thus, my passion for tailoring began at my early age.

After graduated from the Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, I went to work in Italy and grew up for ten years with Gucci and Prada and other companies that acquired the knowledge of the luxury fashion market especially in menswear.      

In 1999, I decided to launch my own menswear brand <Neil Barrett> which made in the finest Italian factories. A year after, I opened my first flagship store in Tokyo.

In the first decade of millennium, many designers were taken over by large conglomerates luxury brand corporations. I stayed on for my own and remained focusing with my own vision, step by step and goal after goal to expand the market and business.There wasn't a smooth drive to begin but nothing comes without a strong determination. 

The brand is rather successful in Asia presently, we have a strong presence in Japan and Korea as well as the incredible growth in China, in fact it overtook Italy for SS2013. Turnover figures are now consolidated and the results showed us our target in Asia market is rather positive.

Our “Factory” in Fucecchio, near Florence coordinates manufactures from over 27artisan producers for the brand, reuniting a force of great craftsmen with over 50 employees, efficiently implementing all production, distribution and delivery. 85% of the collection was, actually, Made in Italy. Moreover, the decision to reinvest in the company also coincided with continued believe in focusing on fabrics suppliers, new technologies and artisan producers in Italy.

In 2011, we worked with Joyce and opened a new store in the Landmark Hong Kong in July. We worked with Zaha Hadid to design the store and also other new stores in Korea and hopefully more to come in the future.

In my SS2012 Menswear collection, you will see the classic patterns like the houndstooth, the chevron, breton stripes & Prince of Wales are magnified, then fragmented creating abstract textures. The elements of Ska and Demob are blended with the signature feature of the brand, the hybrid, and the result is a garment that combines leather biker jacket with the rainmac, and the bomber with the tailored jacket.

The colour tones focus on four shades taken from military surplus and men's traditional tailoring: fatigue green, night black, chino and natural white. Extensive exclusive fabrics developments: soft stretch compact cottons, born in Japan but spun in Italy; military rayon with leather, soft nappa treated with gunshot processing.

The body is divided into two parts. The top is tight, fitted, diminish the volumes. The pants are large and cut right above the ankle or very skinny in the end. The body shape is emphasized by the shoes, a hybrid of a sandal and a boot.

I tried not to use more than 3 colors in one garment and design, tone on tone creates more fun yet playful and urban chic's look.

  

   

  

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

mylifestylenews @ Niel Barrett in his Hong Kong Store.

*Special thanks for JOYCE & Xposure PR @ the interview arrangement.