Nautica Fall 2013: A Luxe Wind Blows into Nautica's Black Sail
Nautica’s first runways show in 5 years was an occasion fit for the smashing of champagne bottles. Quite literally as they rose anchor on “Black Sail,”—the label’s first ever venture into up market waters—on the occasion of their 30th anniversary and return to the New York Runway after years of presentations. “We knew we wanted to go back to the runway for our 30th anniversary and then the idea of a more top-tier label, Black Sail, kind of organically came about,” designer Chris Cox let on as we spoke backstage. “With Black Sail, we’ve developed a new higher end collection that’s more of a specialty brand, better fabrications, more directional.” The guiding light of that collection— the modern version of Ernest Shackleton, one of the earliest of the legendary Arctic explorers. Not that the collection looks anything throwback. The designs are slick, modern, minimal and the high end fabrics are functional—namely, the outerwear such as breathable stretch soft shell parkas lined in goose down and trimmed out in real shearling and fox fur. Proportions are more controlled, yarns are more specialized and durability has been mastered. It’s the kind of brawny design you think about when it comes to classic American craftsmanship, and vision of rugged adventure, but hits the eye with the shimmer of modern luxury. We want it all.
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