Fresh after their brand collaboration with Lover’s, Lyle & Scott are proud to announce their upcoming collaboration with revered menswear store Oi Polloi. Taking influence from the laid-back thrift-store stylings of the grunge era, vintage Seditionaries jumpers and the relaxing sport of golf, the knitwear capsule collection consists of 4 stylish mohair cardigans in block and argyle patterns.
Founded in Manchester in 2002, Oi Polloi has established itself as one of the most famous independent menswear stores in the UK. Co-founder, Steve Sanderson explains the story behind their recent partnership with Lyle & Scott. ‘They were one of the first labels we stocked. We wanted to bring together Lyle & Scott’s rich history with our perspective on the cultural history of reappropriation—referencing cardigan-wearing cultural icons through the decades. There was Hockney in the ‘60s… Lydon in the ‘70s… Cobain in the ‘90s.’
The inspiration behind this collection was found when the Oi Polloi team delved through images from the Lyle & Scott archive. ‘We noticed golf sweaters with oversized argyle patterns’, Sanderson recalls. ‘We wanted to make something unexpected, inspired by Lyle & Scott’s rich cultural experiences whilst adding our own cultural references. We’d never seen Lyle & Scott do a mohair cardigan before and their development team helped us turn that idea into the actual product’.
Discussing the lack of the prominent Lyle & Scott logo in this capsule, Sanderson notes this was actually ‘a nod to Lyle & Scott working with and making for Dior in the ‘50s. We wanted the quality of the item to be what you notice, not the branding.’ This quality is visible in the level of detail the capsule contains, with branding etched into the cardigan buttons and soft and luscious Italian mohair coating the pink and olive-coloured designs.
The Lyle & Scott x Oi Polloi cardigan capsule drops on Thursday, December 3rd 2020, available to purchase from www.lyleandscott.com. Prices range from £140-£150 with limited availability of this collection.
