Biography

Nigel Cabourn has been designing clothing for over 40 years, though his collections rarely follow what most people would call "fashion". Driven by a long-standing passion for vintage clothing, fabrics and design details, Nigel is not influenced by trends, but by inspirational stories of historical events and human endeavour.

After studying fashion at Northumbria University from 1967 to 1971, in his final year at the age of 20, Nigel launched his very first brand Cricket (later renamed Nigel Cabourn). Against the advice of many who urged Nigel to set his sights on the then thriving fashion capital London, he never moved from his home in the North of England, using the often wild and rugged backdrop as a source of inspiration for his designs. Perhaps because of this, Nigel is known as one of few outerwear specialists.

After receiving a vintage RAF pilot jacket gifted by Sir Paul Smith in the seventies, Nigel's life-long interest in vintage reproduction began. Today, this collection stands at over 4,000 pieces including 20th century workwear, U.S. and European military wear and historical expedition gear, sourced from all around the globe.

It is this ever-growing archive of clothing that provides the inspiration for each season, alongside Cabourn's library of almost 3,000 books on everything from sporting heroes to the world's greatest explorers. Each Nigel Cabourn collection is centred around real people and real moments in history, and is built on foundations of the highest quality manufacturing and precise attention to detail.

Now celebrated as one of Britain's most iconic cult designers, Nigel continues to be the driving force behind the Nigel Cabourn brand, working closely with his team, long-standing factories, and industry collaborators such as Umbro, Timex and Belstaff.