Image from R.M. Williams' spring/summer 2016/17 campaign.
You can't get much more of an Australian fashion brand than R.M. Williams, the name is synonymous with classic Aussie fashion and has been outfitting its customers in signature leather boots, belts and hats since 1932. Although R.M. Williams has been available in New Zealand through several stockists for many seasons, it's only recently that the brand expanded to open its first flagship store in Wellington in June, and another flagship store last month on Auckland's bustling Customs Street.
The stunning new flagship stores stock a wide range of each seasonal collection as well as the iconic boots that founder Reginald Murray (R.M.) Williams built the brand on. Each boot is handcrafted from a single hide of leather and a pair retails for around $500 (NZD), and it's the finely honed craftsmanship that makes them durable in the Outback and on the street. R.M. Williams employ a highly skilled team who craft their boots and leather goods including hand plaited belts in their Adelaide factory and ship them out to the rest of Australia and the world. Currently the brand has over 50 retail stores in Australia and 900 stockists around the globe, with a newly opened store in London and further expansion plans to other cities, R.M. Williams is bringing its rugged yet stylish brand of fashion to the world.
For spring/summer 2016/17 R.M.Williams is inspired by travel and the ability to pull on those signature boots and chase new adventures. The collection has an easy charm and casual appeal that is designed to be worn from the country to the city or wherever your summer takes you. The R.M. Williams design team excels at delivering innovative, expertly crafted collections and this one shows a progression of fabrics from heavier cottons to lightweight linens to wear as the new season warms up. The colour palette is designed to reflect the temperate weather with spring's soft tones of sand, sage, tobacco and white turning into hot pink, red and green as summer burns brightly.
Both the men's and women's silhouettes are relaxed and easy to wear with shirts and shirt-dresses, jeans, wraps and playsuits in cotton blends, washed silk and chiffon available for women. Burnished leather is a new finish for the season on lace-up boots, one-piece leather shoes and loafers. The women’s Adelaide boot features metallic leathers which are inspired by Australia’s precious minerals and is a fashion-forward update for the footwear range. The Akubra hats remain part of the brand's heritage having been worn by RM Williams himself, and are the perfect accessory to complement each outfit as well as being essential sun protection during the summer months. In a country as outdoorsy as New Zealand, no doubt the new flagship stores will mean many more Kiwis sport the R.M. Williams brand into summer and beyond.
Images supplied.