Want easy to wear menswear in its simplest stylish form? Look no further as Universal Works unveil their first store

Last night saw the gathering of cool fashion followers for the launch of Universal Work’s first independent store near Holborn, London. 

The menswear brand takes inspiration from traditional British work wear clothes that are designed for a purpose and are durable. The emphasis here isn’t brash fashion but instead simple style allowing the quality to speak for itself. This is reflected in the brand’s ethos that items will last beyond one season as they are timeless.

Each collection produced by Universal Works has a range created from “dead stock fabrics”, which other companies often discard. This means every season is limited edition comprised of truly unique pieces. 

The new AW12 collection didn’t disappoint and offered a selection of chambray shirts, cotton twill chinos and tough cotton work jackets all in an easy-to-wear palette of slate grey, khaki green and dusty blue. The new store is as unique as its contents. Small and minimalist, the shop consists of limited edition garments, tough canvas bags and aftershave. The interior is masculine and functional with the odd quirky feature including a fire grate of thick woollen socks and wooden shelves held to the wall with harness straps.

The British brand was founded in 2008 by David Keyte whose 20-something years in the industry gave him the idea to start his own label, focusing not on creating pieces to reflect current trends, but items of quality and permanency. For this reason, Universal Works is now known for producing garments with an extremely high level of attention to detail in natural fabrics and yarns, making them a favourite for contemporary menswear. 

Hollie Bracciale

Photos: Lucy Bracciale