Paul & Shark gets adventurous with new Autumn Winter Collection

Paul & Shark combines craftsmanship with high tech performance for its adventurous new Autumn Winter 2017-18 menswear collection, which rediscovers the iconic symbol of the brand- the shark.

The heart of the collection is inspired by Alex Bellini’s adventure at -40degrees on Iceland’s glacier, Vatnajökull, and consists of 4 state-of-the-art jackets:

Water Jacket - #SHARKHUB 01

Designed like a fabric parka, yet it reproduces the luminescent effects of materials with reflectors and the camouflage shades of vegetation. Water and wind resistant.

Fire Jacket - #SHARKHUB 02

The surface of this multi-zip jacket has an iridescent effect reminiscent of bright flames. Waterproof and resistant to tears, this jacket is made with a special fabric known as Tyveck that reflects the loss of heat onto the body, reducing it to a minimum even at the lowest temperatures.

Air Jacket - #SHARKHUB 03

A military style jacket made with a hollow fibre treated to allow complete thermal insulation. This garment is lightweight and resistant to water and wind.

Earth Jacket - #SHARKHUB 04

Made of cotton poplin and lightweight seamless, thermo-taped nylon, it is the ideal garment for leisure time thanks to its versatility and casualness.

Each piece of workmanship blends tailoring with active wear, haute couture and sport. Varying from merino wools treated so that they have breathable, waterproof and heat-regulating properties, to double-face down jackets made with a multi-directional stretch fabric (a lightweight material that is incredibly warm), as well as the new range of trousers that incorporate the same research, processes and experimentations as the jackets. All of this is designed to push the limits of Italian tradition towards new technological frontiers;  without forgetting the charm and casualness that have always characterised the brand.

For global travel retail, these four themes: Water, Fire, Air, and Earth, have been used to create capsule collections visually drawing the traveller’s eye instore through the use of blended colourways including forest green, woody brown and stone tones, plus deep hues of blue. These four seasonal themes sit alongside the Paul & Shark core or “DNA” colour story, used for the brand’s iconic pieces. For 2017/18, warm, autumnal Bordeaux replaces the usual bright red, while the traditional navy and white colours remain.

Says Paul & Shark’s Global Travel Retail Director, Catherine Bonelli: “We are focusing on fewer SKU’s for global travel retail, using analysis of passenger buying patterns and preferences to create a much tighter offer highlighting styles and sizes that we know work in this channel.”

The camouflage Sharkflage collection continues to provide a trendy, modern twist with jackets, sweatshirts and tees complemented by a range of accessories including backpacks, caps and shoes.  Equally aimed at the younger end of the Paul & Shark target audience are the Colour and Blue Badge collections that use American –style Sports and College style logo badges to create a preppy look. The Colour line makes a loud, bold statement with badges predominant on the front of jackets, jeans and Polos, while the Blue collection is more discreet with tone on tone badges in shades of blue.

Continuing to celebrate 40 years, a new limited edition Marine Wool sweater has also been created, drawing inspiration from the new themes of the FW17 Collection Here the original jumper in water repellent wool uses elements of the REFLECTIVE and SHARKFLAGE collections to embellish and add a point of difference and interest. It is presented in a special 40^th Anniversary edition of the original tins that are, in themselves strongly distinguish the brand.

“ From a very extensive collection, we are very excited to have distilled the total offer into the perfect mix of styles, colourways and sizes for travel retail,” continues Bonelli. “We now spend a great deal of time analyzing sales from each of our retail outlets in TR to ensure that we can work closely with individual buyers to create the perfect offer for each airport, chosen to reflect the passenger profile. This next season collection is particularly innovative, practical, and different which is something both retailers and passengers are always on the lookout for.”