Wales Bonner Men
Men's fashion has taken a real turn in recent years thanks to the arrival of designers offering a new aesthetic while challenging the traditional codes of tailoring and classic ready-to-wear. Grace Wales belongs to this creative generation and sets herself apart with her sensitive, romantic approach to menswear, blending European and African influences.
As the granddaughter of a tailor, she attended London's Central Saint Martins and ended her training in style with her final collection named "Afrique," winning the L'Oréal Professionnel Talent Award. Following her initial success, the young woman went on to launch her own brand in 2014, named Wales Bonner. Born to an English mother and Jamaican father, Grace Wales Bonner draws on her multicultural background to shape her label's identity. Her collections celebrate mixed heritage, playing with boundaries, eras and genre through refined silhouettes that, in the founder's words, provide ambiance, energy and a feeling of freedom. Fascinated by history, literature and music, the designer infuses her pieces with inspiration from the post-colonial era. Season after season, Wales Bonner remains close to her aesthetic by revamping conventional menswear materials and cuts. This refreshing approach accompanied by a perfectly executed stylistic vision and flawless craftsmanship earned her the Emerging Menswear Designer Award at the British Fashion Awards in 2015 and the LVMH Young Designer Award in 2016.
In May 2019, Meghan Markle introduced her newborn baby to the world, dressed in a white gown by Wales Bonner. This exposure further made a name for the label and led to a public exhibition later that year, A Time for New Dreams, at The Serpentine Galleries in London. Her signature style, defined by high-waisted trousers, a tapered waistline and slender shoulders, also grabbed the attention of Maria Grazia Chiuri, who invited Grace to reinterpret Dior's iconic New Look for the Resort 2020 collection. Soon after, she was made the honorary winner of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. Holding an impressive track record, the brand that centres diversity in its vision, has promising future ahead.
