Written by Craig Landale in Essentials on the 19th August 2020

The weather has certainly changed this past week. This has led me to turn my focus to a few forthcoming autumn/winter 2020 collections. As usual I’ve hunted down the best new drops this month, and for this guide I’ve put the spotlight on a new Italian fragrance, highly technological outdoor clothing, and some cool looking true wireless earphones, among others. So, following on from my July roundup, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite products and releases for the month of August 2020 – enjoy.

Save The Duck AW20 

The Urban Collection for Autumn/Winter 2020 from Save The Duck is inspired by the fascinating beliefs of the ancient peoples of Tibet and follows in the footsteps of the great achievements of Kuntal A. Joisher. Fashion elements are blended with highly technological items of outdoor clothing from the 100% animal-free quilted jacket brand, creating clean, streamlined, minimal and modern lines. An important new aspect is the capsule collection 'Skyscraper' by the Japanese designer Satoshi Yamane, with items of an urban and essential character, inspired by the highest peaks of the mountains and the uncontaminated woody landscapes. Technological research in continuous evolution, setting out the rules for a style that is ever-increasingly minimalist, essential and related to nature. The Pro-Tech collection of the brand draws heavy inspiration from the Brokpa people, inhabitants of the only fertile valley in Kashmir, the Ladakh Valley. What characterises these people more than anything is the land that they have inhabited for over 2,000 years, which is rich in food and products that have allowed them to adopt a vegan diet from the very beginning. The dramatic climate changes that have taken place over the last decade have drastically changed the lives of these fascinating people. 

savetheduck.it

Taylor Morris X Formula E Driver Mitch Evans 

Taylor Morris has launched their Taylor Morris X Mitch Evans frame. The brand has worked over the last year with Jaguar Formula E driver Mitch Evans to develop his own limited-edition pair of sunglasses. Having worn Taylor Morris frames for a number of years, it was only right that the brand would partner with Mitch to design his own signature frame. Using Taylor Morris’ already popular Louis Orson as inspiration, together they created a striking and individual piece. A classic reinvented black acetate frame with modern ice blue detailing and eye-catching Cyan Mirror polarised lens making this the perfect frame for a race weekend. 

taylormorriseyewear.com

Lacoste x Concepts Collaboration 

Introducing the Lacoste apparel and footwear collection rooted in innovation and heritage with Boston-based retailer Concepts; a leading American brand that has led the blending of the cultures of street, skate and fashion, long before such merging was commonplace. The capsule collection was conceived of a dialogue between two experts, both giants in their fields. In their first partnership together, Lacoste and Concepts mark a union of two distinct, but connected histories and by the shared values of commitment, expertise, invention and excellence. The collaboration is rooted in Lacoste and Concepts’ shared connection to the city of Boston, the birthplace of Lacoste and Concepts as we know them today. In August 1923, a journalist writing for the Boston Evening Transcript first coined the moniker “the Alligator” when describing René Lacoste, connecting to the brand’s iconic logo. The city of Boston and the United States have a special place in Lacoste’s story, as epitomised by René Lacoste’s joyful quote; “The American spirit and generosity touched me so deeply, that I’ve always felt as French as American.” The same year is an important marker in the Lacoste footwear story, with the introduction of the Velocity sneaker, Lacoste’s first running shoe. To celebrate this history, Lacoste has tapped Concepts to reimagine the heritage shoe into a new footwear icon, the Storm 96, which will see a limited-edition release of 650 pairs globally. 

lacoste.com

Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura 

Acqua di Parma’s new Colonia Futura is so much more than just a fragrance, this new addition to the colonie family is a genuine emblem of the sustainability manifesto of the historic Italian Maison, and significantly takes the name of Acqua di Parma Futura. Sustainability, in Acqua di Parma’s view, means preserving traditions, respecting and renewing them in a dynamic and vibrant transition between past, present and future, to protect and share authentic Italian style, alive and intact, to future generations. Colonia Futura is the contemporary expression of this drive towards the preservation and promotion of the natural and cultural resources that has existed since the Maison’s beginnings, and that has become an ethical, transparent and sustainable approach. For over a century, Acqua di Parma’s purpose has indeed been to safeguard and pass on the Art of Italian Living, knowing that the prerequisite to make this happen is protecting the cultural, artistic and natural heritage of Italy. Today, as new environmental scenarios and lifestyles develop, the Maison feels it is the right time to release a new product that encapsulates this commitment. 

johnlewis.com

Bang & Olufsen AW20 

Introducing the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 3rd Generation true wireless earphones and Beoplay A1 2nd Generation portable speaker in two brand new AW20 colourways - Green and Pink. The lush and vibrant Green and soft pastel Pink bring a striking flair to the two models which have been celebrated as the most beautifully designed and best sounding in their categories. Bang & Olufsen’s next-generation Beoplay E8 true wireless earphones are more compact and more powerful than ever, re-engineered to bring significant improvements to a product that was already applauded as one of Bang & Olufsen’s triumphs. Created for people who don’t want to compromise on superior sound or design for true wireless freedom, the Beoplay E8s boast enhanced comfort and better call clarity, fitting a larger variety of ear shapes and sizes. With up to 35 hours of playtime, the earphones have up to seven hours of continuous playtime and four full charges built into the premium leather wireless charging case. This means that many users can go up to several weeks before charging the case, which is done in two hours. 

bang-olufsen.com

LAVAIR AW20 

Say hello to four new styles: Berlotti, Pacific, Vitesse and Femento, and welcome back some freshly updated and reworked SS20 favourites like the Creator, Linear and Maxxi. This independent London-based luxury trainer label combines maximum comfort with their own innovative style to offer boundary pushing colourways and ever-evolving materials. Lavair aims to confidently style today's culture creators as the brand continues to revolutionise the footwear lifestyle marketplace. Born out of a mindset that everything is possible and supported by a tribe of creators breathing life into the unknown; LAVAIR was born out of a need for something more luxurious than our everyday staples. Inspired by the runway’s innovative response to the lifestyle sneaker market, LAVAIR has carved out a niche as an everyday luxury lifestyle brand, with an emphasis towards collaborating with some of the most prestigious cultural creatives of our generation. 

lavairbrand.com

We feature Save The Duck AW20, Taylor Morris X Mitch Evans, Lacoste x Concepts, Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura, Bang & Olufsen AW20, and LAVAIR AW20 in August 2020’s Coolest Stuff.