One Thing Done Well: The Workers Club
The Workers Club’s three-piece outerwear system pushes the One Thing Done Well format to kill three birds with one proverbial stone
words by WILL HALBERT
The ‘One Thing Done Well’ premise has always been a simple one: Provide a space to celebrate the very best version of something; create a means of diving into the quintessence of a particular brand; and put a spotlight on a particular garment that presents the clearest, strongest visual metaphor of that brand’s overarching philosophy.
Easy for the most part. But every so often, a brand like The Workers Club comes along with a collection that is so well-crafted and tightly-edited that choosing a single, stand-out piece proves pretty damn difficult. From their woolen wares to their waxed jackets, Oxford shirts to selvedge denim, TWC has spent the last five years crafting well-made garments that transcend trends to go the (literal and metaphorical) distance. And while opting for a three-piece outerwear system might seem like a slight bending of the ‘One Thing Done Well’ ethos, it does provide the perfect working example of what the brand does best.
Comprised of a cotton canvas shell Jacket, a down-filled bomber jacket, and a wool-knit gilet, ‘The Works’ three-piece system combines staunch utilitarian principles with timeless aesthetics. The shell jacket is a water-repellent, wind-resistant, cotton-canvas powerhouse of ruggedly handsome design. The bomber is lightweight, reversible, and purpose built for the infamous unpredictability of the Great British weather. The gilet is a high-spec, minimal little number that boasts an exceptionally soft hand despite its rugged durability. Both the bomber and gilet can be zipped into the shell jacket for a little whatever-the-weather versatility.
Sure, there’s an easy metaphor to be had here about ‘The Works’ being a greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts exercise in fashion gestaltism, but we’re not going to go there. To do so would be to do TWC’s three-piece system a huge disservice. Make no mistake: Together they’re great, but that doesn’t change the fact that all three garments hold their own as standalone pieces, happily going toe-to-toe with the titans of the technical outerwear scene.
For all the technical heft and obsessive detailing that define TWC’s three-piece system, however, one of the most impressive aspects of the ensemble is the way in which it deftly navigates the whole gamut of menswear stylistic sensibilities. All three pieces betray a hint of Japanese technicality, a touch of American, post-war, ruggedness, a pinch of Scandinavian minimalism and, dare I say, a mite of British, Mod-esque, elegance. The result is a trio of outerwear pieces that, despite their technical credentials, remain endlessly and effortlessly wearable.
Which makes perfect sense, really. Founders Adam and Charlotte have cut their teeth on the tides and trends of the fashion industry for a collective three decades. They have developed a ground-up understanding of how these things work. Which explains why each and every piece in the current TWC lineup not only oozes style, but strikes a future-proof balance between form and function.
Ultimately, The Workers Club tells the simple story of well-made goods brought to you by well-versed makers. And while ‘The Works’ is both a solid introduction to the brand and a glowing testament to its standard of engineered excellence, it really only scratches the surface of what The Workers Club has to offer. Which is exactly why we’re looking forward to getting to know TWC a little better over the next few months. EJ
theworkersclub.co.uk
