Nicholas Daley treats every collection as an extension of his own story, drawing together family heritage, music and craftsmanship to create garments that feel deeply connected to culture. For Spring/Summer 2027, the British designer turns his attention to another enduring influence: the free-flowing world of Spiritual Jazz.
Daley uses the genre's ethos as the foundation for a collection titled "Sonic Tapestry." Taking cues from influential figures including Don Cherry, Laraaji, Gary Bartz and Kahil El'Zabar without directly recreating their signature styles, the collection captures the movement's energy through rich textures, vibrant colour palettes and handcrafted finishes.
Visual storytelling plays an equally important role throughout the lineup. Daley looks to the work of Swedish multidisciplinary artist Moki Cherry, whose bold tapestries and collages inspire a series of graphic treatments and layered patterns. Elsewhere, immersive stage environments created for Don Cherry's performances are echoed through prints that bring a similarly expressive quality to the garments.
One of the standout developments also comes through a collaboration with celebrated West Yorkshire quilter Chris English, who repurposes archival Nicholas Daley fabrics into intricate patchwork textiles. The reconstructed material appears across a Harrington-style jacket and a reworked version of Daley's signature patchwork kilt, reinforcing the designer's ongoing commitment to circular design and extending the lifespan of existing materials.
Daley also continues to explore the intersection of his Scottish and Jamaican identities through a newly developed camouflage print. Combining Scotland's iconic thistle with Jamaica's hibiscus flower, the custom motif features across ripstop shirting and the new Miles Work Jean, bringing together two sides of the designer's heritage in a single visual language.
As a whole, it's a collection that explores how music, identity and craftsmanship can coexist, translating the spirit of Spiritual Jazz into garments that feel both personal and contemporary.
