The Edit: 3 Classic Picks From ALC’s AW22 Collection

Words by The Folklore Team

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Contemporary South African brand ALC is known for its utilitarian aesthetic and workwear designs, resulting in understated button-down shirts, boilersuits and jackets that form the foundations of a practical menswear wardrobe.

Designers Amanda Laird Cherry and Brendan Sturrock take inspiration from their home town of Durban to create garments that are inspired by the deep, multidimensional cultures around them, and integrate this inspiration into sophisticated and intellectual pieces for the modern man.

But for any retailer new to the South African brand, it can be a hard choice deciding which pieces to start with when introducing ALC to the shop floor. Below, we’ve selected three classic pieces from the latest collection that easily represent the brand’s aesthetic and design sensibility.

The trench coat

The Melville trench coat is named after a beach on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal (or KZN), in the town of Port Shepstone. The sleeves are relaxed and roomy so that a thick jersey or sweater can be layered underneath as the weather cools. It is available in classic stone and navy blue colorways.

The dungarees

Just like the signature boilersuit, the Lovu dungarees have become a staple design for ALC, refreshed every season in new shades, from rust orange to bottle green and burgundy. They’re cut for a comfortable fit while the multiple pockets point to its utility inspiration.

The matching set

For the AW22 collection, ALC has created limited-edition coordinating separates in a traditional South African print called Shweshwe, an indigo-dyed cotton fabric that’s characterised by intricate geometric patterns. Laird Cherry first used it back in 1983 as part of her graduate collection, and has included it in her work ever since. This season, the print has been used to create a set of matching pants and tunic.

Discover the ALC collection on The Folklore Connect