One is a hero of the skies, the other an icon of style. Together, the mighty Spitfire and the model David Gandy combine to create the Aerodrome Collaboration, an 18-piece collection for luxury brand Aspinal of London that includes pieces inspired by classic military looks, using black and tan calfskin leather and navy canvas.
The core leather used is traditional pilot’s flying jacket grain, while the hardware reflects specific components of the plane. The lock used on some of the pieces is an exact copy of the Spitfire Mk1 firing button, and other Spitfire-inspired design details have been used across handle holders, studs and zip pulls, which are shaped like propellers.
Key pieces include travel bags sized according to trip time (see right), a washbag and a passport cover. For everyday use, there’s a classic-looking briefcase, a zip folio and a leather backpack. As for Gandy’s involvement, he wasn’t just a passenger when it came to the design, which he worked on with a team from Aspinal and M&C Saatchi Merlin.
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“My inspiration for the design and details of the collection was taken from the RAF Spitfire, arguably one of the greatest pieces of British engineering of all time,” says Gandy. “All the individual items are an extension of my own personal aesthetic where the sophisticated, subtle feel of luxury and heritage meet with modern usability and technology.
“I’m very proud that the attention to detail has been captured through the quality of the materials as well as the finer details such as the stitching and hardware. It feels masculine, yet functional and stylish.
“As a frequent flier and keen traveller, this collection is an extension of my travelling wardrobe and truly a representation of my own personal style blended with luxury heritage English design.”
For more information, visit aspinaloflondon.com.
