Monkee Genes Made In England Range

It is a sad fact that fashion and morality have a habit of diverging. However, instead of burying their heads in the sand, some companies have tackled this issue head on and promote an ethical approach to fashion that should serve as an inspiration to other brands. Monkee Genes is one such label.

Established in 2006 out of frustration at the culture of disposable high street fashion, Monkee Genes has received notable accreditations from The Soil Association and the Global Organic Textile Standards for their working conditions and high organic standards.

Their new Made in England range coincides with their re-opening of a factory that is helping get skilled workers back in to work and paying them a decent wage. The collection blends Monkee Genes’ signature vibrant skinny fits with a British Heritage inspiration, creating a collection that has a unique character.

The range is made up of a selection of unisex cords, jeans and chinos. The jeans are particularly striking as they are made of an unusual velvet stretch fabric. Whilst velvet trousers could be considered overly formal or old fashioned, Monkee Genes produces them in vibrant colours and a skinny fit that brings them bang up to date. The unusual style makes these an interesting piece – throw on a navy velvet number instead of your regular denims to transform an everyday look in to a style statement.

A selection of cords provide a muted alternative to the velvet jeans and tap in to heritage trend that is so big within the industry at present. The skinny fit appropriates them for casual use but all of them would look at home paired with a slim blazer and crisp shirt.

In addition, a pair of chinos in a grey chalk stripe cohere with the theme of turning smart pieces into casual wear. The chalk stripe pattern, usually reserved for tailoring, offers a smarter aesthetic than that of the other pieces, yet the collection still leans towards the more casual end of the spectrum.