Elevated streetwear label Best Jumpers has become a fixture in well-curated wardrobes across the country. Known for its tongue-in-cheek take on logo pieces, laid-back tees and classic sportswear-inspired silhouettes, the unisex brand pays attention to the details.
Designer and founder Dylan Best won the National Designer Award at Melbourne Fashion Festival in March 2023. The career-defining prize pool added up to a value of $130,000 – which included $20,000 cash and a David Jones capsule collection – and set Best up to take his label to the next level.
The Melbourne designer cut his fashion teeth living in New York, studying at Parsons School of Design and working at Ralph Lauren and Club Monaco before returning to Australia in 2018. Best’s time at the American sportswear juggernauts set the tone for his label – but there’s an irreverent and unequivocally Aussie flex to the brand’s signature pieces.
Now, Best takes his focus on fabrics and playful approach into a new era, adding elegant tailoring, clean denim and leather accessories to the line-up this season.
What can we expect from Best Jumpers for autumn/winter 2024?
We’re introducing more elevated pieces this season. There’s some really great tailoring – our version of suiting is a bit more relaxed, with details like elasticated waistbands and oversized shoulders on the blazer – and a really timeless double-breasted coat.
We’ve done some denim before, but we’re adding it as a new category this season. There’s one relaxed-fit unisex silhouette and it’s available in four washes, including black and two lighter blue shades.
Will we still see iconic logos from past seasons?
Yes, our “Mate” logo features across intarsia jumpers and is printed on rugby jumpers. We’ve also got our wombat motif heroed on some of the knitwear.
What colours are coming into the mix?
Navy blue and camel have a really strong presence this season, particularly in the new outerwear pieces. They’re timeless, core shades and there are quite a lot of tonal pieces that can be layered together. There are also shades of grey and some pops of colour, like green.
Knitwear is part of the brand’s DNA. Tell us about what’s ahead.
We’ve got a new range of cashmere knits that are really simple and beautiful. Some have cable detailing, which has turned out really great and elevates the classic pieces.
What were your main sources of inspiration for this collection?
There’s definitely a strong ’90s nostalgia, particularly from mood board photos of my family, my parents and memories of growing up in that era – like the rugby jumpers. I always have a lot of TV and movie references, too. We have some tracksuits that are Sopranos-inspired. And we’ve also done a spin on the Princess Diana koala jumper with our wombat knit.
There’s quite a bit of prep influence in this collection but still with a relaxed, streetwear vibe. References for our campaign shoot were pulled from ’90s Ralph Lauren, Gap and J Crew ads, too.
And who are you designing for?
As a Melbourne brand, I always think about our climate. A lot of Australian labels are focused on resortwear, but we’re from Melbourne and we have all seasons to dress for. I love outerwear and I think it’s a big part of creating a full look. I often have myself in mind when I’m designing, but also my wife – that’s where the unisex element comes in. I consider how our female customers might wear pieces and what’s going to look cool for both men and women.
What pieces are you most excited about?
The suiting is really exciting to me because we haven’t done it before. We’ve done some pieces like dress trousers, but this season just takes it to the next level.
Is there anything else we should look out for?
We have two leather tote bags, which are inspired by old shopping bags and leather satchels. We’ve done our spin on those silhouettes in black and brown.
bestjumpers.com.au
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This article first appeared in Domain Review, in partnership with Broadsheet.
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