Scotch & Soda will return to the Chicago Collective event in February to showcase its Fall Winter 2025 men’s collection with licensee and distribution partner United Legwear & Apparel Co. (ULAC). The Amsterdam-based fashion brand is known for sharing a message of individuality and authenticity in self-expression.
As previously reported by WWD, Chloe Struyk and Rudolph Holmond, co-design directors at Scotch & Soda, always look for collaborations with educators, artists and music that can enrich a collection’s theme. The strategy, which has included collaborations with Joe Jonas, has done well for the brand.
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For FW 2025, Scotch & Soda’s designers looked for inspiration from Black Mountain College, which shares the brand’s passion for art and innovation. The school in North Carolina is known for revolutionizing art education and championing freedom, innovation and artistic expression.
“This renowned art school, located in North Carolina, served as a haven for rising young artists during the 1930s to 1950s,” said Eran Kaïm, chief product and merchandising officer at Scotch & Soda. “Black Mountain College inspired future institutions to embrace unbounded creativity. This avant-garde philosophy not only shaped the evolution of modern art institutions but also forms the foundation of our latest collection, which pays homage to the freedom, innovation, and artistic expression championed by Black Mountain College.”
Additional inspiration for the collection comes from Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. The city has been home to Scotch & Soda for 40 years and the brand’s designs have always incorporated an appreciation for Amsterdam’s passionate explorers. Notably, Scotch & Soda’s design studio is housed in a former church along the historic canals of Amsterdam as a testament to its Dutch heritage.
“The atmosphere within these walls embodies the essence of Scotch & Soda, celebrating Amsterdam’s free spirit, playfulness and dedication to authentic craftsmanship,” said Kaïm. “Embracing the city’s spirit has always been integral to our identity. Amsterdam’s 750-year history serves as a poignant reminder of our deep connection to our heritage.”
Paying homage to that history, the FW2025 offering includes a limited-edition “Let It Rain” 750th anniversary capsule collection which features water-repellent denim and a fresh interpretation of Scotch & Soda’s reversible women’s bomber jacket and lightweight men’s parka.
The full fall/winter collection includes prints and graphics inspired by the college’s dance department with a soft and sophisticated color palette that contrasts with rich earth hues and deeper shades of brown and green, highlighted by vibrant accent colors throughout. Details also include “trompe l’oeil” patchworks within a large range of prints, embroideries and patterns exclusively designed by Amsterdam creative studio. Relaxed and oversized silhouettes have been created in transitional fabrics including linen, lightweight jacquard and flannel.
As the brand gets ready to show its collection at Chicago Collective, Kaïm told Fairchild Studio that buyers should know Scotch & Soda is revitalizing its design and commercial strategy under the leadership of United Legwear & Apparel Co. and with the backing of Bluestar Alliance Group, after navigating the challenges of a declared bankruptcy in early 2023.
Today, the brand’s collections have reduced average retail prices by 30 percent, and the range has been streamlined to ensure each product has a distinct role and receives adequate attention.
In addition to exploring the FW2025 collection, buyers can browse a selection of the brand’s timeless wardrobe essentials that have been introduced, featuring core colors that are easy to replenish, providing consistent options for Scotch & Soda’s markets.
Find Scotch & Soda menswear in booth #7082 at Chicago Collective.