House of Billiam x Dover Street Market launch party

Last night was the launch party for House of Billiam’s new spring/summer 2012 varsity jacket collection, in collaboration with Dover Street Market. It was an unassuming launch for a fashion label, taking place as it did in The Fox pub on the Kingsland Road and, thus, being open to all. To tip you off that this was, in fact, a launch party, there were DJs, House of Billiam-print beer mats and Earl Grey-flavoured jellies being passed around; not to mention a little terrier dressed in a tartan House of Billiam dog jacket. There was also a free raffle to win a jacket and, best of all, a collection of House of Billiam x DSM cushions to take away, stitched from the various fabrics used in the collection.

House of Billiam is a small British clothing company, based in Hackney, that uses high quality fabrics to create both off-the-rack and bespoke casual clothing. Everything is handmade in the UK, of excellent quality and is fully customisable – from the colour to the cuffs. I can attest to this personally: I own a bespoke varsity jacket in Aztec-patterned green and red wool, with a pink silk, leopard-print lining!

The new range will be available to buy at Dover Street Market from Friday, coinciding with the opening of the new DSM store in Tokyo, where it will also be on sale. It consists of an exclusive range of eight varsity jackets, in an array of bold colours and prints, all fully reversible. My personal favourite is light blue wool on one side and camouflage print on the other, with muted green merino wool trimmings.

Click here to see for yourself.

James Clohessy