Fabric Conditioning

Number 46 Monmouth Street is a little-known sartorial treasure trove, particularly for aficionados of high-grade denim (founder John Park is a serious collector of the material – the brand began life as a denim-specialist whose collections were made solely from Japanese selvedge).

But, thanks to Park’s newfound enthusiasm for technical fabrics – no longer a poorer cousin to those made of natural fibres – it’s the boutique’s outerwear that really catches the eye these days: not least the bright orange ‘Margate’ parkas (£490 | $A886, naturalselectionlondon.com), made using Techsuede from the Komatsu textile mill in Japan, which is, as hinted at by the name, an ultra-durable alternative to napped leather. “It’s knitted from microfibers and then shrunk down to be dense, waterproof but breathable,” explains Park. “Like real leather or denim, it will take on a patina with age, as well as mould three-dimensionally to the wearer, giving the garment character over time.”

Another stand-out piece amongst Natural Selection’s current outerwear repertoire is a double-sided trench in cotton with a modern chemical bond (£550 | $A994). “This innovation allows us to return to the use of natural cotton fibres, but balancing waterproofing with aesthetic demands,” says Park.

The finishing touch is raw edging, which subtly shows the contrast colour between the two layers when the wearer moves.