"We set out to create a label that redefines everyday wardrobe staples in a luxurious way and Palmer//Harding felt like exactly the right partner for the first season," Jo Bennet - head of buying at John Lewis, who worked alongside Iain Ewing, head of design, to mastermind the collection - told us. "They share our values, loved our vision for the label and there is no better place to begin reinterpreting wardrobe staples than with the classic white shirt every woman needs in her wardrobe."
"Since launching Palmer//Harding in 2012 we never desired to do a high-street collaboration unless it was with the perfect match," Harding told us. "Having grown up with John Lewis, it always maintained an idea of quality and heritage. So when Jo and Iain from the John Lewis team first showed us the Modern Rarity project we were not surprised with how many parallels the label held with us. From looking to the same artist for inspiration to the quality in fabrics and construction, it was really a perfect match from the very start."
Unlike previous designer collaborations for the department store, the 90-piece collection features five shirts from the design duo instead of an entire range, with the rest being designed in house by Bennet and Ewing, who want to deliver a fresh perspective on wardrobe staples. Tailoring and knitwear feature heavily, as does outerwear (heads-up: there is a full-length military trench coat made entirely of cashmere for £550) in the carefully curated edit, which Bennet believes will fill a gap in her customers' wardrobes
"Since launching Palmer//Harding in 2012 we never desired to do a high-street collaboration unless it was with the perfect match," Harding told us. "Having grown up with John Lewis, it always maintained an idea of quality and heritage. So when Jo and Iain from the John Lewis team first showed us the Modern Rarity project we were not surprised with how many parallels the label held with us. From looking to the same artist for inspiration to the quality in fabrics and construction, it was really a perfect match from the very start."
Unlike previous designer collaborations for the department store, the 90-piece collection features five shirts from the design duo instead of an entire range, with the rest being designed in house by Bennet and Ewing, who want to deliver a fresh perspective on wardrobe staples. Tailoring and knitwear feature heavily, as does outerwear (heads-up: there is a full-length military trench coat made entirely of cashmere for £550) in the carefully curated edit, which Bennet believes will fill a gap in her customers' wardrobes
