Youth – the concept and perspective of – is a constant source of inspiration for Raf Simons. Perhaps this why he is drawn to the work of Gavin Watson. By the age of 16, Gavin amassed more than 10,000 photos of the racially inclusive, working class Skinheads and council estate residents in and around High Wycombe, on the borders of Greater London. His photographs offer an intimate glimpse into the energy of Britain’s youth culture and a generation of kids coming of age in the ’70s and 80’s.
For his Spring/Summer 2020 Fred Perry collection, Raf Simons turns, once again, to Watson’s photographs for inspiration. He worked with Museum of Youth Culture to select a series of images that capture the essence of the photographers work. The images are printed across classic Fred Perry silhouettes and trimmed with a metal version of the Laurel Wreath logo.
See all the looks and shop Fred Perry x Raf Simons SS20 now at fredperry.com.
“The start of my collection was completely linked to the attitude of youth, and to how youth was dressing, how youth could be reactive. So I went straight back to that. I think on the other hand, I’m doing that almost all the time. The brand stands very much for that.” – Raf Simons in Esquire
