Little over a decade ago, 1999 saw William Asprey launch the eponymous William & Son. A small family business that epitomises British fashion through elegance and timeless style, the brand offers an eclectic and often extravagant array of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories.
Fourteen years on, William is flying solo. The aptly named Just William was launched earlier this year, with the brand hoping to target a new, younger and more urban clientele by creating a range of accessories for both work and travel, designed with the astute, fashion conscious consumer in mind.
Like its father brand, Just William focuses on the juxtaposition of innovation and tradition. The current leather collection comprises eleven styles, including luxurious looking messenger bags, sleek laptop and tablet envelopes, and quilted document cases, all of which are carefully crafted in the family run workshop using Spanish leather and skills passed down from generation to generation.
This process allows each piece of the collection to be meticulously hand finished. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, it is apparent that value and quality are at the forefront of Just William products (even the fastenings are said to implement the ‘Rolls Royce of zippers’).
The British roots of Just William are inherently clear throughout the designs, with each piece boasting an elegant simplicity that lends itself to timeless style. In the brand’s own words, the focus is on remaining seasonally fresh, rather than being fashion-led.
In keeping with this sentiment, the colour range revolves around the brand’s timeless ethos, consisting predominantly of browns and blacks and a classic vibrant red. Combined with the vegetable-tanned leather, which is fated to improve with age, any purchase from Just William is one destined to remain a wardrobe staple for years to come.