Below street level, in the open, white-pillared space of the Vinyl Factory on Marshall Street, directly opposite the brand’s flagship store, C.P. Company hung just a handful of its military and utility-inspired jackets and hoodies on mic-stands. Lit sparsely by similarly mounted spot lights, the display did not afford the viewer a quick, easy overview, but instead forced us to come closer, to take notice of the details. It was the perfect way to highlight the company’s strengths: the fruits of their extensive research into performance fabrics and the witty and sometimes beautiful accents and finishes.
The jackets often appeared to have several layers due to double zip-plackets, collars and hoods in contrasting fabrics. A shimmery, aubergine-blue jacket contrasted with its mossy-green wool collar, the brand’s signature goggles attached to the hood. Nearby, a quilted jacket in orange Japanese polyester microfibre had a navy cotton hood and a ‘porthole’ logo on the breast zip-pocket. The diverse range of urban outerwear exhibited influences ranging from punk – in the case of a lightly padded maroon bomber – to country pursuits, with its Royal Navy oil skins and Shetland wools in Scottish check.
Photography: Panagiotis K. Pontikas