Kestin Hare collaborates with malt whisky distillers BenRiach for SS19

Scottish menswear designer Kestin Hare has teamed up with unconventional Speyside distillery BenRiach in a partnership celebrating the creative approaches to clothing design and whisky distilling.

To mark the collaboration, the capsule SS19 collection, "A Summer on Speyside", features five different garments inspired by the whisky, landscape and architecture of the BenRiach distillery in Speyside. It tells the story of childhood summer holidays spent around the unspoilt area in North Scotland, known for its world famous single malt whisky distilleries and fly fishing. The BenRiach distillery was established in 1898.

The collection will be available in the Kestin Hare stores in London and Edinburgh, as well as online and in selected retailers from March 2019, with a launch event at the brand’s Shoreditch store on Thursday 14 March. BenRiach master blender, Dr Rachel Barrie, will host a tasting with guests on the BenRiach expressions featured in the collection.

Kestin Hare says: “I’m a big fan of weaving in Scottish heritage into my collections, and when I went to visit the BenRiach distillery I was so charmed by the process, the whisky, the people and the location, it gave me lots to play with.

“I think we have developed a high impact capsule collection which reflects real depth and meaning to the story. The colours and textures are beautiful and the garment dyed element ensures that every garment has a unique finish which I think is a nice touch.”

The Scottish countryside-inspired collection is focused on functionality using water resistant fabrics and details influenced by golfing and fishing attire. Illustrated thistle and abstract whisky cask prints on technical fabrics challenge the preconceptions of traditional Scottish design.

Hare has teamed up with Dundee-based mill, Halley Stevenson, to develop traditional peat dyed and garment dyed products, representing the unique colours of aged BenRiach "Speyside Single Malt Whisky", including the garment dyed "Shop Coat". He also took inspiration from BenRiach’s eclectic whisky casks and created a digital cask print in a lightweight ripstop nylon featuring on the "Torness Parka", "Traveller Jacket", "Fatigue Short" and "Storr Pant".