Fashion designer Nicholas Daley often finds inspiration in his Scottish and Jamaican roots, blending cultural stories, traditional skills, and music into deeply personal and historically-informed collections. His Spring/Summer 2027 line, called “Sonic Tapestry,” is inspired by the Spiritual Jazz movement of musicians like Don Cherry, Laraaji, Gary Bartz, and Kahil El’Zabar. He captures the improvisational energy of the genre through clothing focused on interesting textures, colors, and careful construction.
This season’s collection focuses on texture, tone, and color to evoke personal memories and significant influences, explains designer Daley. Instead of directly copying the style of Spiritual Jazz musicians, he drew inspiration from the movement itself – using expressive colors, interesting fabrics, and graphics that capture the feel of the time. The work of Swedish artist Moki Cherry, known for his bright collages and tapestries, heavily influenced the collection’s designs, as did the visually striking stage setups used during performances by Don Cherry.
A key piece in the collection comes from a partnership with quilter Chris English, who skillfully combined older Nicholas Daley fabrics into a unique patchwork. This fabric is featured on a jacket similar to a Harrington and the brand’s famous patchwork kilt, highlighting their dedication to repurposing materials. Throughout the collection, Nicholas Daley also explores his Scottish and Jamaican roots with a new camouflage pattern that blends Scotland’s thistle flower with Jamaica’s hibiscus – you’ll find it on shirts and the new Miles Work Jean.
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This September, during New York Fashion Week, Daley will perform “Sonic Tapestry” live at the famous Blue Note nightclub with Theo Croker, a Grammy-nominated trumpeter. The two-night event, happening on September 15th and 16th, aims to bring the themes of jazz, skilled artistry, and cultural stories from his collection to life in an engaging concert experience. Tickets are currently on sale.
2026-07-29 21:26