Think art deco amalgamated with youth codes. We took a trip to Copenhagen, immersing ourselves in all things Soulland SS15

Copenhagen: a fusion of industrially driven heritage, modern design, rugged, inspiring waterways, cutting-edge fashion, decadent Danish pastries and of course, the genetically blessed. Nestled amongst the enclaves of Scandinavian artisanship is menswear and lifestyle brand Soulland. Born from the creative unity of designer Silas Adler and CEO Jacob Kampp Berliner, encompassing a contemporary design aesthetic and a forward-thinking attitude, Soulland was founded in 2002. Their trademark? The Adler Fedora; a traditional men’s fedora fused with a baseball cap brim, handmade in Copenhagen.

Presenting two seasonal collections alongside two pre-collections every year, Silas and Jacob kindly invited us to view their SS15 presentation first hand, giving us a taste of the real Copenhagen whilst we were at it. From visiting the flagship store and the factory where the Adler Fedora takes shape, to a sunset river cruise and later the SS15 presentation at Gallery Andersen Contemporary, we were fully immersed into the unique captivating world of Soulland.

Whilst the AW14 collection took a trip to outer space, citing the likes of Stanley Kubrick and Herman Potočnik as inspiration, SS15 looks to the 20th century and the art deco period from the end of WWI to the beginning of WWII. With this period often seen as a venthole for the youth, it was a time of change and progression – the literature blossomed, women obtained voting rights and people went out dancing long into the night.

The collection, aptly named ‘Deco’, personifies this cultural movement of the time: people becoming more self aware, whilst extravagant features were in the spotlight. So featuring, amongst others, a jacquard weaved suit, a three-piece silk robe, shirt, trouser combination, goat leather and lamb suede jackets, raw denim and both crisp and slouchy silhouettes, the 8-ensemble collection looks to the objects, shapes, architecture synonymous of the Deco period.

From the button down Oxford shirt splattered with a collage of ephemera from Miami Beach’s architectural district, to the newly introduced denim presented in raw denim, black wash and a dotted version in light wash, all in a fitted cut with buttoned closure, the collection is effortlessly fresh. “We’ve always wanted to work with denim; it’s a timeless product, which, alongside suede and leather, is fun to work with. Both the goat leather and the lamb suede are used for a classic zip jacket with a tropical print on the inside,” says Silas.

Surrounded by interior artwork from Danish Artist FOS, who has recently teamed up with the house of Celine, the Gallery Andersen Contemporary was the perfect location for the birth of Soulland SS15. From outer space and back to the 20th century, we can’t wait to see where Silas and Jacob take us next.

Words: Brooke McCord