Spring/Summer 2026: A Study in Linen
As temperatures rise, the discerning wardrobe turns to linen. This season, we've sourced extraordinary linens from Ireland, France, and Belgium — each with its own distinct character and heritage stretching back centuries.
Irish linen, woven in the mills of County Antrim, carries a crispness that is unmistakable. Its tight weave and smooth hand make it the ideal choice for structured shirting — collars hold their shape, plackets lie flat, and the fabric develops a beautiful patina with each wearing. We've selected three weights this season: a featherlight 120 g/m² for holiday shirts, a versatile 160 g/m² for everyday elegance, and a robust 200 g/m² for unstructured blazers.
From the Normandy region of France comes a linen of altogether different temperament. French linen possesses a softness from the first wearing that Irish linen only achieves over time. Its slightly irregular texture speaks to the artisanal nature of its production, where smaller looms and gentler processing preserve the fiber's natural character. We've used this for our relaxed-fit summer shirts, where the fabric's inherent drape creates an effortlessly elegant silhouette.
Belgian linen — and specifically, linen bearing the Belgian Linen mark — represents perhaps the pinnacle of the craft. The flax grown in the Flanders region benefits from a unique combination of maritime climate and rich alluvial soil, producing fibers of exceptional length and fineness. Our Belgian linen suiting fabric, woven at 280 g/m², manages the rare feat of being simultaneously substantial and breathable.
The question of caring for linen reveals a philosophical divide. Some insist on pressing linen until every crease surrenders; we believe this misses the point entirely. Linen's gentle rumpling is not a flaw to be corrected but a quality to be celebrated. It speaks to a man confident enough in his own taste to let his clothing live.
For Spring/Summer 2026, we've developed a palette that honours linen's natural beauty: undyed ecru, sun-bleached ivory, the pale blue of a Mediterranean sky at noon, and a deep navy that gains luminosity in the summer light. Each shade has been carefully tested to ensure it ages gracefully, growing more beautiful with every wash.
Our recommendation for the season: begin with a white Irish linen shirt, the foundation of every warm-weather wardrobe. Add a French linen shirt in pale blue for more relaxed occasions. And for the man who appreciates linen's full potential, our Belgian linen suit in natural ecru — unlined, half-canvassed, and destined to become the most-worn piece in your collection.
