The British fashion brand Orlebar Brown was founded in March 2007 by the photographer Adam Brown. Its original line was a collection of 1,000 shorts, held in a storage unit in West London. Since its global expansion, the brand has evolved into a globally recognized line with stores in cities and resort towns around the world. Currently, Orlebar Brown is gearing up to open new locations in cities across California, New York, and Florida, representing a fifty percent increase in the brand’s brick-and-mortar retail portfolio.
La DoubleJ x Orlebar Brown, courtesy of Orlebar Brown.
To many, it’s a surprise that the brand was acquired by Chanel six years ago. This acquisition, however, represented the pinnacle of success to those who know Orlebar Brown for its quality materials, unique designs, and unparalleled fit.
“There really is no better fashion family to be a part of than Chanel,” said Orlebar Brown’s Chief Marketing Officer, Trevor Hardy. “Becoming part of Chanel has given us more confidence and accelerated the journey that we started after Orlebar Brown looked to celebrate 15 years, as we started to think about our next 15. In 2007, we reinvented vacation style for men, and we are continuing to do this with more color, rich prints and gorgeous fabrics such as merino, silk, linen and knitwear. Online sales are important to us and we are making significant investments in the physical—stores, advertising, like events—to get closer to, and give a richer experience for, our customers.”
La DoubleJ x Orlebar Brown, courtesy of Orlebar Brown.
Over the years, Orlebar Brown has also gained attention for its partnerships and collaborations with brands and entities like Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, The Mark Hotel, The Beverly Hills Hotel, and most recently J.J. Martin of the maximalist brand La DoubleJ.
In celebration of the latest line, and both the Spring and Summer 2024 collections debuting, featuring the actor Jonathan Bailey in its campaigns, Whitewall spoke with Hardy about collaborating with La DoubleJ on a new line that evokes the essence of summer.
Orlebar Brown Expands to the U.S.
La DoubleJ x Orlebar Brown, courtesy of Orlebar Brown.
WHITEWALL: Most recently, the brand announced plans to expand into the U.S. Why is the American market of importance for the brand right now?
TREVOR HARDY: The U.S. is Orlebar Brown’s largest market and in many ways epitomizes the spirit of the brand—sunshine, travel, and good times. We have a growing and loyal customer base who find us at our stores and partners in the US and in places where they vacation to around the world. To reach more customers, we are expanding with more stores in California, in Montecito and Orange County with more openings to come soon. These are in addition to Orelbar Brown stores in Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, Miami, Boca Raton, Bal Halbour, and the Upper East Side, SoHo, and East Hampton in New York.
La DoubleJ x Orlebar Brown, courtesy of Orlebar Brown.
WW: The brand’s latest collection, “Blossom,” features gorgeous floral prints across various sets. How does this embrace what spring is about?
TH: Men are dressing with more character and confidence, especially when they travel on vacation, letting a more playful side emerge. Colorful styles and floral prints are the best examples of this. And our Spring 2024 collection is filled with them. The season is called “Blossom” and has many floral prints of different shades and sizes in shirts and swim shorts, giving a more adventurous man the chance to enjoy a twin set. Spring is a period of renewal, growth, and flourishing, and our designs are meant to inspire that attitude.
Collaborating with Orlebar Brown
La DoubleJ x Orlebar Brown, courtesy of Orlebar Brown.
WW: In previous years, the brand has collaborated with an array of hotels—like Eden Rock St Barths, Carlton Cannes, and The Beverly Hills Hotel. Why have hotels been a focus?
TH: Our customers travel to the most beautiful hotels in the world and have the time of their lives. It has been a privilege to collaborate with so many iconic properties, creating products and experiences together to enhance their guests’ stay and make their memories last longer. It is something we are doing more of in the years to come with Rosewood, Mandarin Oriental, Byblos, and The Mark.
JJ Martin and Adam Brown, photo by Mariela Medina, courtesy of Orlebar Brown.
WW: Most recently, the brand announced a collaboration with La DoubleJ. Why was JJ Martin someone you wanted to work with?
TH: J.J. Martin has an infectious, inspiring energy and everything she designs is infected with positive vibrations. Before even thinking about product, we were attracted to the DoubleJ spirit and how it could bring a new dimension to Orlebar Brown. Both of our brands have had many collaborations. This one felt the most natural fit.
Working with J.J. Martin
JJ Martin and Adam Brown, photo by Mariela Medina, courtesy of Orlebar Brown.
WW: How did you work collaboratively to design the line?
TH: We were focused on fusing the very best of both brands in creativity and aesthetics. It was a true founder-to-founder collaborative process that resulted in a capsule that brings a bit of Orlebar Brown to La DoubleJ and some La DoubleJ to Orlebar Brown with new styles, new colors, and new fabrications.
WW: What do you think these prints and silhouettes say about summer style right now?
TH: These prints reflect a real playfulness that people are craving during the summer months. A natural evolution from the popularity of rich, decorative prints in recent years. They are light, colorful, carefree, and rooted with positive storytelling.
La DoubleJ x Orlebar Brown, courtesy of Orlebar Brown.
