Cord Man’25 — pared-back menswear, reworked
Framed by the stark, elemental landscape of Ladakh, Cord Man ’25 begins with familiar menswear codes—straight cuts, grounded proportions, earthy tones—and turns them on their head. Studio signatures like smocking and appliqué, typically seen in womenswear, are distilled into crisp, geometric details. The result is a quiet structure with a subtle edge: blazers mapped by seam lines, jackets traced with grid-like panels, shirts defined by disciplined texture rather than loud motifs. It’s classic menswear, distilled—then reimagined.
The idea: elemental form, intelligent craft
Here, minimalism isn’t about less; it’s about purpose. Every line serves a fit and function. Smocking adds controlled elasticity and micro-texture at yokes, cuffs, and waist channels. Appliqué is reduced to clean strips and angles that underline the garment’s architecture. Ease without slouch. Structure without stiffness. Pieces sit close to the body but never feel forced.
Palette and materials
The colour story lifts directly from Ladakh: riverbed taupe, slate grey, wind-worn olive, sun-baked terracotta, anchored by off-white and ink. Fabrics favour breathability and tactility—brushed cottons, compact twills, linen-blend shirtings, and supple suiting weights that drape cleanly. Finishes stay matte, so the geometry reads first; the hand softens with wear, building character over time.
Tailoring, rebalanced
Blazers and jackets carry a straight, masculine line—slightly broader through the shoulder, neat at the torso, cut to sit just below the hip. Hidden darts and placed smocking shape the body while keeping the front squared. Shirts follow the same logic: sharp collars, balanced lengths, refined cuffs. The geometry is felt more than seen; it animates each piece without overwhelming it.
Key pieces
Blazers & Jackets
Core tailoring anchors the collection. Single-breasted blazers trace pocket lines and lapels with discreet appliqué grids. Field-inspired jackets translate smocking into flexible shoulder panels for ease of movement. For measured impact, explore our Printed Jackets—kept to the same clean silhouette, with patterns softened into earthy tones so they layer effortlessly. Prints sit within the tailoring, never on top of it.
Shirts
From firm poplins to airy linen blends, shirts deliver clarity and texture. Our take on Vintage shirts refines familiar references with modern proportions: a slightly wider collar stance, pockets aligned to the garment’s geometry, and subtle texture inserts where you’d expect flat panels. It’s the memory of a mid-century shirt—recast for now.
Co-ords and modular dressing
For frictionless pairing, Cord Man’25 introduces Men’s Co-ord sets that carry the collection’s geometry through complete looks. A mapped-appliqué jacket pairs with trousers cut to the same rhythm; a textured shirt aligns with shorts via top-stitched grids. Each piece stands alone, but together they create a clean line from shoulder to hem—ideal for travel, long workdays, or evenings that call for polish with ease. Swap in a tee or knit, and the structure still holds.
The foundation: Men’s Bottoms
Silhouettes in Men's Bottoms are precise and pragmatic: straight-leg trousers with a comfortable top block and clean break; tapered chinos with room at the thigh; drawstring pants in suiting cloth for the off-duty city uniform; tailored shorts finishing just above the knee. Look closely and you’ll find the same language of craft—subtle appliqué reinforcing pocket mouths, placed smocking at waist channels for stretch that won’t sag. Each pair is cut to ground the collection’s upper half without shouting for attention.
How to wear Cord Man ’25
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Work, refined: A structured blazer, textured shirt, and straight-leg trousers. Keep the palette tonal—ink with slate, taupe with off-white—so the geometry registers quietly.
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Weekend, minimal: A field jacket over a linen-blend tee, tapered chinos, and leather sneakers. A matte belt echoes the collection’s tactile restraint.
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Evening, modern: One of the Printed Jackets over a dark shirt and tailored trousers; the pattern reads as depth, not noise.
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Set dressing: Reach for Co-ord sets when instant coherence matters. They travel well and move from day to dinner with a switch of shoes.
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Heritage, updated: Style our Vintage shirts open over a tee, grounded by Men's Bottoms in a complementary earth tone. Roll the sleeves; let the texture lead.
Design notes & details
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Geometry as guide: Panel lines and appliqué map movement and reinforce stress points; they are solutions, not decoration.
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Texture over gloss: Smocking and stitched grids create shadow and relief that photograph beautifully yet stay understated in person.
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Proportion first: Shoulders square the frame; lengths skim just below the seat; sleeves taper to avoid bulk.
Care and longevity
Treat these pieces as considered tailoring. Brush between wears; steam to relax creases; wash shirts on gentle cycles to preserve texture. Hang trousers and Men's Bottoms from the waist to maintain the line. With time, fabrics soften and the geometry settles into the garment—patina, not wear.
Why Cord Man’25
Because it honours the clarity of classic menswear while speaking a language entirely its own: lines, textures, and cuts that feel inevitable once worn. The Ladakh reference keeps the palette grounded; the craft keeps the pieces intelligent. Whether you build days around Co-ord sets, rotate Vintage shirts for subtle texture, add Printed Jackets for measured impact, or rely on Men's Bottoms to anchor every look, Cord Man’25 reads refined at first glance—and reveals its thinking up close.
Explore the collection and assemble a modular wardrobe where every piece shares the same vocabulary: elemental, precise, and assured.
