The Freemans Sporting Club Fall/Winter 2017 collection carries the tagline “Welcome Back Old Friend,” inspired by an old photo from 1981 depicting Jean-Michel Basquiat. The artist is a touchstone for FSC, whose authentic connection to downtown NYC is paralleled by the brand’s Lower East Side origins. The upcoming Fall/Winter 2017 range showcases updated silhouettes drawn from the early days of the brand, exemplified by the P-Coat, constructed with a full floating canvas and built to last a lifetime. Similar utilitarian influences are seen in the N-1 Deck Jacket, made with waxed cotton and a genuine shearling lining, and the Buffalo Ombre Plaid reversible jacket. Additional standout pieces include an unstructured shirt jacket made with Italian Casentino wool in Hunter Orange, and the Double-Breasted Freeman Suit, directly influenced from the jacket that Basquiat wore in the aforementioned photo. While the suit jacket looks formal, it’s unstructured and unlined; it feels as comfortable and familiar as on old friend.
