MENSWEAR
At James Hillman we have highly skilled Menswear designers who specialise in the menswear sector. Our designers possess a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of Menswear. James himself specialised in menswear at Central St Martins University in London, and has since had his own collections presented in both London and Amsterdam fashion weeks.
We can provide full process assistance, from the initial concept through to production including print development, trim and packaging design and development, as well as brand identity and strategy.
Below you will find examples of our work, as well as our featured case study.
FEATURED CASE STUDY: Marané
Marané is a luxury men’s swimwear brand.
We worked alongside Marané to create four swimwear collections: Horizonte, Splash, Artist collaborations and a collaboration with Rochanbeau.
In addition we also created a linen clothing collection, jersey collection, homewear collection and beachwear accessories for Marané.
Atlantic Sky / Cielo Atlantico Concept
Marané is located in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. Both the culture and location of Uruguay was important to the brand throughout the concept and stylistic process. We therefore wanted to capture the natural beauty of the Uruguayan landscape, as well as the colours its sunsets, sunrises and skyscapes bore and reflect that in the product designs.
After the Storm / Despues de la Tormenta
materials used
Specialist bespoke polyester materials focusing on the needs of swimwear. Salt and chlorine resistant, SPF 50, durable, peached finishing, perfect for printing, dyeing, laser cutting and bonding.
Bespoke metal trims which are then Lacquered to prevent corrosion.
Durable polyester cords which were made bespoke to our design specifications and included a high durability, as well as chlorine resistance.
The Brand Story
Marane is a menswear swim and lifestyle brand based in Punta Del Este in Uruguay .
The main aim was to bring a new luxury swimwear brand to the market. We went to ‘Punta’ and spent time understanding what it is all about. We fell head over heels in love with the emotional, rugged and windswept landscape, the Campo y Mar (land and Sea) and how when you look out to the never ending horizon, the mood and feeling changes throughout the day.
This was the basis of the first collection was to make a swim short so good that you wouldn’t want another one from anyone else because all others are inferior. We did this by implementing and combining traditional sewing techniques with modern ones - laser cutting and bonding techniques to give a beautiful and luxurious finish. We worked on getting the fit across many shapes and sizes perfect! And finally worked with a local Uruguayan Artist Claudio Pincas who understood the natural beauty of the landscape in which he lives to create watercolour artworks of the horizons at different times of the day to show the beauty and emotion of Punta Del Este. Which we then seamlessly printed onto the swim short so that there is no start or finish to the artwork. It is simply perfect from every angle.
“James has worked with Marané since 2014, and our relationship is still on-going.
James’ support, expertise and contacts were instrumental in the initial phases of launching Marané. He took the time to really understand what we were looking for and supported us the whole way. He often went above and beyond what was expected of him to help us achieve our goals.
I now count James as a friend, and have learnt a great deal from him.
I highly recommend him for his talent as a designer and tailor as well as his relentless commitment.”
