Brooklyn wears my stuff nearly every day, says David Beckham at Kent & Curwen’s Shanghai launch, explaining label’s appeal
Soccer legend, in Shanghai with British menswear label’s creative director Daniel Kearns for its autumn-winter 2017 collection launch, talks about their goal of giving the brand multigenerational appeal
If any man can draw a crowd, it’s soccer legend and men’s style icon David Beckham. He didn’t disappoint in Shanghai last week, when he flew in for the global autumn-winter 2017 launch of heritage British menswear label Kent & Curwen, whose creative direction is led by Irish designer Daniel Kearns and Beckham.
There was heavy security at the doors as the fashion crowd (camera phones out) rushed in to see the star, who was presenting on stage with Chinese actor and all-round heartthrob Hu Bing. Later that evening, Beckham would charm his way through a 50-person VIP dinner, speaking to each guest and taking endless photos. Witnessing his star power up close flustered even some Chinese celebrities.
How David Beckham and Daniel Kearns hope to improve Hong Kong men’s wardrobes
With menswear changing so much in the last 10 to 15 years, and Asia such an important segment of the market, Beckham and Kearns’ vision for the label appears to be for it to appeal to the younger end of the market. Looking at their collection, there’s sportiness, bold hues and fresh cuts – meaning that a casual bomber jacket and tee might pair with a knife-sharp pleat on a formal, cropped khaki pant.
But as Kearns argues, “it’s not about age, but more about attitude”. Beckham echoes this sentiment, saying that he wants Kent & Curwen “to be the multigenerational brand that it can be”.
“My Kent & Curwen outfits often get stolen at home,” Beckham says. “[My 18-year-old son] Brooklyn will take my stuff and wear it almost every day, and now even Harper, who’s only seven, is at it, she takes a T-shirt and wears it as a nightdress, which is kind of cute.”