Aspesi Offers the ABC of Workwear in Archv Limited-edition Capsule Collection

MILAN — For those looking for an all-things-workwear refresher, Aspesi is dropping the Archv limited-edition capsule collection on Thursday.

The Italian brand, known for its discreet take on urban wear, has looked into its archives tracing back to end of the ‘60s and re-edited some of its signature pieces to offer a fresh perspective on its icons to a new generation of consumers.

Available in Aspesi shops, e-commerce and in a selection of other retailers at prices between 140 euros and 995 euros, the Archv line includes the C shirt, a chambray classic introduced in 1985 and inspired by a ‘40s U.S. Navy workwear design, and La 13, a hybrid piece in between a shirt and jacket crafted from lightweight polyamide and padded for extra warmth, which embodied Aspesi’s forward-thinking approach when it launched in 1988. A decade later the company debuted its Jil vest, a sleek and versatile design inspired by rugged Canadian outdoor gear, which also comes with a lightweight nylon construction and Thermore padding, while the Dirty Harry coat dating back to 2012 was named after the 1971 movie starring Clint Eastwood to evoke the same cool attitude of his character.

Other designs in the collection range from the military-inspired M65 jacket to the Slim Banana pleated pants. 

A label historically connected to art and design, Aspesi has always focused on an essential and unfussy look, hinged on high-quality pieces with a refined color sensibility. Founder Alberto Aspesi established the company in 1969 as a shirt brand, but at the end of the ‘70s he began to create men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections, collaborating with designers including Walter Albini and Franco Moschino.

The Armònia fund has owned a controlling stake in the Milan-based brand since 2017. Its collections are currently designed by Lawrence Steele, while the company appointed Alessandro Pescara as its new chief executive officer last month.