Farah Launches The Archive: A 16-Piece Capsule Celebrating 100 Years of British Counterculture
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By PAGE Editor
For a century, the name Farah has been more than a label; it's been a cultural artifact. Woven into the fabric of subcultures from the mods of the 60s to the indie kids of the 00s, its pieces have served as a uniform for those defining themselves against the mainstream. Now, Farah steps decisively into its own history with the launch of The Archive, a 16-piece unisex capsule collection that meticulously reinterprets designs from its rich, 100-year legacy.
This is not merely a retrospective; it's a renaissance. Until now, glimpses into the Farah vault have been granted through celebrated collaborations with the likes of YMC, Bianca Saunders, and Martine Rose. With The Archive, the brand takes full ownership of its narrative, reworking true originals and signature hero pieces for today, shining a light on decades of British style and the subcultures that adopted them.
The collection is a testament to cultural exchange, born from the journey of American workwear becoming a badge of identity on British soil. It spans decades, meticulously recreating pieces that travel from the Texas workshops of the 1940s to the heart of menswear Americana, offering a curated wardrobe that is both timeless and distinctly modern.
Highlights from The Vault
The Archive brings specific moments in time sharply into focus. Key pieces tell a story of transatlantic style:
The Pendale Hopsack Jacket: Reviving a 1970s Western silhouette, this piece is pure Americana, reimagined. With its pearl snaps and wide collar, it recalls the kind of garment once tied to the honky-tonk bars of Austin, now ready for the urban landscape.
The Carranza V-Neck Jumper: Crafted in Italy from a rich wool blend and featuring an all-over jacquard pattern, this knitwear piece nods to the 1980s as seen through the lens of British football culture—a staple of the 'casual' movement that prized subtle sophistication.
The Montwood Corduroy Western Shirt: Another 1970s classic is revived, with its curved yoke detailing and pearl snaps offering a tangible link to Farah’s deep-rooted American heritage, now filtered through a contemporary, unisex lens.
A Living Legacy of Subculture
The story of Farah in Britain is one of adoption and adaptation. For generations, its pieces have been chosen by rude boys, mods, casuals, and indie kids, worn as a badge of identity on dancefloors, terraces, and street corners. This capsule both documents and reimagines that legacy.
Every decade is represented. You can trace the lineage from the double-knee denim built for 1950s labour to the signature Hopsack Slacks of the 1970s, pressed sharp by West Indian communities in London. It encompasses the terrace knitwear of the 1980s that became a uniform, and the striped poplin shirting and workwear that defined the 1990s. Each piece in The Archive carries the unshakeable spirit of its era, rooted in subculture but thoughtfully reimagined for how we dress today.
For a century, Farah has existed at the edges of culture, woven into stories of identity and belonging without ever chasing the mainstream. This collection is a testament to that endurance. It’s a reminder that this is clothing that has always been about more than trends; it’s about community. The original Farah tab runs throughout the capsule as a marker of this quality and heritage, a symbol synonymous with its indelible place in the story of British style.
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