The game-changing fashion label reinventing multipurpose wear

Think back to your childhood wardrobe. Aside from bootleg Spice Girls’ band tees and that old itchy Fair Isle sweater passed down from an older sibling, it probably featured zip-off trousers that doubled up as shorts, a ‘skort’ and the ultimate pre-pubescent go-to piece: a reversible jacket. These days, multifunctional fashion is nearly obsolete, most likely relegated to charity shop bins and bargain baskets in the children’s dept. But as we tighten our belts (preferably Gucci) in preparation for the onslaught of wining, dining and the purchasing of expensive gifts that accompanies the festive season, the time is ripe to reassess these previously naff childhood staples in order to keep things fresh, fun, and — crucially — affordable.

And there’s no better place to start than with Nouman, the Spanish-based brand seeking to bring back multi-functionality — and its cool status. Where once khaki combat zip-offs were the epitome of multifunctional fashion, Nouman’s three-part jackets have replaced them as the ultimate in useful clothing. “I love it when I find products that I can somehow customise for different situations,” the brand’s founder, Victor Nouman, tells me. “I always found trekking trousers that you can make into shorts so fascinating. It is so smart. It’s also something very related to the current climatic situation!”

These days, megabucks brands like Prada and Fendi are offering up shorts and shirts costing five-figure sums, but more often than not, only suited for a certain kind of occasion. For Nouman, it’s all about creating pieces that are visually striking yet practical — they’re tailored to the requirements of the wearer, whether this is due to the unpredictability of the weather, or simply as a design choice is up to them. For the 27-year-old designer, striking that balance came easily. “It was natural somehow. We are interested in multi-functionality as a concept, but of course we worked to transform this concept into an aesthetic,” he shares. “We are very interested in everything related to spaces and also radical architecture from the ’70s, so we took a lot of inspiration from there too.”

The result is outerwear pieces that give a new meaning to layering. The bottom section of a utility jacket can be zipped off to create more of a ’70s style crop, or, if you’re really zipper-happy, you can zip away everything to leave a simple vest. Heavy-weight trench coats can be stripped back and transformed into a more formal evening jacket or a long-line military style gilet. Nouman’s adaptable and self-altering styles mean three or four pieces for the price of one, and who can resist a bargain?

“People like to experiment with their clothes and wear them differently from others,” Nouman says, explaining the reaction to the brand’s SS19 collection. And he’s adamant that he’s not stopping here. “We believe in multi-functionality as a key point in a future where everybody is travelling and moving around. You need to be ready for different situations in the same day.”

So there you have it, folks. It’s time to embrace what we once knew as our comfort blanket. The reversible jacket, the zip-offs, whatever your multifunctional fashion moment was, it’s time to bring it back.