Nepenthes has given birth to a handful of ‘brain-children’ over the years - Engineered Garments appeals to the workwear crowd, whereas Needles usually takes most of the shine due to their affiliation with everyday streetwear, gaining notoriety amongst the queuer-uppers that would frequent Supreme stores every Thursday at 11:00 am.
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Their youngest brand - South2 West8 (formed in 2002) has now taken centre stage. They have amassed a cult following through their bold prints and mixture of quality, everyday staples and statement pieces.
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We recently spoke to Olly Smith, brand manager and head of collaborations at Nepenthes, who said "Whilst there are many similar features that you’ll notice within S2W8 to some of our other brands, the technical capabilities are more visible throughout the line, whether the garments are used for outdoor activities or general everyday lifestyle."
Last year, we witnessed the brand’s coming out party through their collaboration with Supreme, which was full of bright colours and innovative materials. Olly said "It was a real honour to work with Supreme but at the same time we have to always remember why the brand existed in the first place." S2W8 has always stayed true to their inspiration - Tenkara, which is the japanese art of fly fishing and the nomadic lifestyle surrounding it.
South2 West8's fall/ winter 22’ look book is full of hard-wearing pieces, filled with unique spins on shirts and knitwear - which sport distinctive camos and check prints; there are fleeces, jackets, trousers, shorts and a plethora of complementary accessories on offer. S2W8 never fails to disappoint, faithfuls of the brand will be glad to see them being cemented amongst the hottest names out there with such a timeless collection. Olly's favourite piece is the 'shaggy plaid coach jacket' (pictured below).
Expect the collection to release in the coming months, keep an eye on the feet with rumours that some special footwear is also on the way.
