Jump to content

Applied Art Forms

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Applied Art Forms
Company typePrivate
IndustryFashion
Founded2020; 5 years ago (2020)
FounderGuy Berryman
Headquarters
Amsterdam
,
Netherlands
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsClothing
Websiteappliedartforms.com

Applied Art Forms (stylised in all caps and occasionally as A/A/F) is a fashion brand based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded by Scottish musician Guy Berryman in October 2020, it draws inspiration from vintage utilitarian, military and workwear clothing. Berryman has referenced Nigel Cabourn, Helmut Lang and Martin Margiela as influences.[1] Distributors for the brand worldwide include Dover Street Market and Fred Segal.[2]

History

[edit]

Applied Art Forms debuted online in late 2020 after Berryman transformed a fifteen-year archive of vintage clothing into the basis for a first collection produced in the brand’s Amsterdam studio.[3][3][4][1]

In 2023, the company introduced the Canal House Line (C.H.L), an artisanal capsule sewn in-house from antique textiles such as 19th-century Japanese indigo ‘‘boro’’ cloth; the hand-finished C.H.L Boro Liner became a signature of the range.[5][3]

International distribution expanded in January 2024 when Dover Street Market Singapore and other DSM locations began stocking A/A/F, followed by launches at specialty retailers including UNIVERS in Manila.[2][6]

By mid-2025, Applied Art Forms was presenting its collections to buyers in a dedicated Paris Fashion Week Men's showroom and finalizing plans for its first flagship store in Amsterdam, conceived as a combined retail and vinyl-listening space.[3]

Design

[edit]

Berryman describes the design process as "reinterpreting functional garments from the 1940s-60s" with a preference for natural fibers and Japanese streetwear silhouettes.[3]

Core pieces include the modular "AM2-1" parka—featuring detachable liner coat and vest—and the "DM1-1" cargo trouser, both inspired by archival military patterns and updated in Ventile cotton or Japanese canvas.[7] The label avoids seasonal calendars, releasing garments only when development is complete, a practice praised by press for aligning durability with sustainability goals.[6]

Reception

[edit]

Fashion media have highlighted the brand's engineering-led construction and "convertible" outerwear. Mr Porter called the modular parka "as adaptable as it gets" on its spring jacket guide, while Highsnobiety ranked Applied Art Forms among the "18 Best Dutch Clothing Brands" of 2025 for its craft focus and global cult following.[7][5] Esquire commented that its commitment to timeless design and its growing international retail footprint, crediting the approach with attracting consumers who value longevity over trends.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Broeke, Teo van den (18 November 2020). "From Coldplay to couture (kinda): inside Guy Berryman's Applied Art Forms". British GQ. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b Tan, Azrin (29 January 2024). "Coldplay's Guy Berryman launches his fashion label Applied Art Forms at Dover Street Market Singapore". Vogue Singapore. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Guy Berryman's Love Affair With Vintage Is More Than an Obsession". Hypebeast. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  4. ^ Howarth, Peter (2 March 2024). "Coldplay's Guy Berryman is now a fashion designer too". The Times. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b "18 Best Dutch Clothing Brands Every Highsnobiety Reader Should Know In 2025". Highsnobiety. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b Chua, Paolo. "Applied Art Forms Just Touched Down in the Philippines". Esquire. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b Pradella, Emma (21 February 2023). "Every Jacket You'll Need In Your Wardrobe This Spring". Mr Porter. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Applied_Art_Forms&oldid=1303426849"