Dezeen Magazine

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

Christopher Raeburn transforms a life raft into brightly coloured coats

London fashion designer Christopher Raeburn has used material salvaged from an inflatable life raft to create outerwear and accessories for his Autumn Winter 2015 menswear collection.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

Christopher Raeburn chose the themes "survival" and "endurance" for this season's Raft range, shown during the London Collections: Men event last week.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

In keeping with his "Remade ethos" of recycling materials, the British designer found a new use for the inflatable emergency vessel, which was coloured bright orange and yellow to attract the attention of rescuers for those adrift at sea.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

Raeburn tailored the durable rubber material into a parka and a bomber jacket, which still display the black writing and markings found across the survival vessel.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

An all-black rubber field jacket was also crafted from the underside of the raft, while more of the colourful panels were worked into a backpack and a shark-shaped holdall.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

The original white arrow graphic – used on the raft to demonstrate its correct orientation – could be seen on the jacket and was recreated as a motif on other garments, pointing upward on tops and downward on trousers.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

Continuing with the same theme, latex rubber was used to create inflatable puffer jackets and gillets, blown up using the plastic valves found on swimming armbands.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

Bright orange and red featured throughout the collection to punctuate the dark blues, greys and black thought to evoke a stormy sea.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

Shark and shark-tooth patterns were applied to sweaters, T-shirts and joggers as digital prints.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

More traditional fabrics and materials such as Merino wool and waxed cotton were also implemented across the collection.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

Raeburn ventured into footwear this season for the first time, collaborating with London brand Purified to create a boot and a shoe to complement the garments.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

The latest edition of the biannual London Collections: Men event took place from 9 to 12 January.

Christopher Raeburn AW15 collection

Other designers and studios that presented included Sibling, which showed garments made from pink fur and brown paper, while John Galliano chose the occasion to return to fashion with his inaugural haute-couture collection for Maison Martin Margiela.