Pioneer spirit British menswear brand &SONS announces the launch of the Riviera Collection, an archive-inspired selection of timeless summer staples serving as an ode to the freedom of travel, sepia-toned memories and a slower pace of life.
&SONS’ dedication to quality craftsmanship and heritage designs lay the foundations of this latest collection which is brought to life through an evocative campaign steeped in Mediterranean elegance. Vintage influences are reimagined through a modern lens and interpreted with an elevated and refined aesthetic.
To honour the spirit of La Dolce Vita, the campaign was shot on location in Sorrento, using an original Super 8 cine camera from the 1960s, delivering a series of Riviera reels which echo the texture and character of &SONS’ founder and photographer Phil James’ teenage recordings in the region and the location’s cinematic heritage. It’s a deliberate choice – one which connects past and present in an honest, unpolished way.
A Sense of Place, A Way of Living
&SONS clothing is never just about what you wear, it’s about where you’ve been and what stays with you. The Riviera Collection is born from a formative journey: a first teenage visit to the Riveria where the contrast to familiar British coastlines was immediate and unforgettable.
The Riviera chimed to a different rhythm, slower, more considered, and effortlessly relaxed. It wasn’t just scenery that stood apart, but more importantly attitude, a quiet confidence expressed through simple, well-chosen clothing, worn with ease.
These early impressions overlapped with the cultural energy of 1980s Britain, sparking a deeper interest in the enduring appeal of 1940s and ‘50s cinema.
A Cinematic Influence
The Riviera Collection is also shaped by how memories are captured and revisited. Family holidays documented on grainy cine film offer a romantic, dreamlike window to faraway locations.
Movies such as ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ , ‘To Catch a Thief’, ‘Cinema Paradiso’, and ‘Plein Soleil’, evoke the spirit and sensory delights of these backdrops and ushered in a more refined, relaxed and elegant approach to dressing. This is reflected by the sepia-toned colour palette of the campaign, and the nonchalant sensibility of the collection.
The Collection
In-keeping with the spirit of La Dolce Vita, the Riviera collection is a vintage-inspired range of transitional and high-summer standouts. Hero pieces include the ROGUE Babel Shirt, a 100% silk revere-collar shirt manufactured in the UK, which carries the eye-catching ethereal image of Wilhem von Kaulbach’s Der Babelthrum (The Tower of Babel).
The Verona Drill Pant serves as a subtle wardrobe anchor. Crafted from khaki twill, the pleated pants feature a high Gurka-style waistband with side-fastening buckles inspired by Nepalese soldiers’ trousers.
Later releases in the seasonal collection feature a selection of summer-ready shirts, shorts and accessories, all in a palette of rich earthy tones which evoke Mediterranean summers. Designed to be worn together or alongside the &SONS core collection, the first pieces of the Riviera collection are available to purchase now at andsons.co.uk and in store.