# Northern Soul-Inspired Apparel Raf Simons Taps Fred Perry for a Northern England-Focused Capsule By Kanesa D | Published 2022-08-09 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/raf-simons-2 References: [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/2022/8/raf-simons-fred-perry-collaboration-collection-north-uk-culture-youth-soul-scene-release-info) & [fredperry](https://www.fredperry.com/) Raf Simons has expanded its focus to include Northern Soul music, tapping [Fred Perry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/palace-x-fred-perry) for a new collection of reworked polos, patches, and a parka jacket. The collection aims to honor the North of England, a place that Raf Simons was familiar with culturally. Comprising Raf Simons’ signature polo shirt, T-shirts, rollneck tops, denim offerings, blazers, jackets, and socks, the upcoming collection focuses on imaginary music labels, artists, and figures as its main motif, producing band-inspired merchandise with Northern influences. Standout pieces include a three-button blazer with a rose motif and graphic on the chest, dual-branded laurel wreaths which decorate a series of polos, and a ‘Parka’ that features embroidered patches on the rear. The Raf Simons and Fred Perry collection launches online and in select Fred Perry stores on August 11. Image Credit: Fred Perry ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 30% | Activity: 5% | Freshness: 12% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Northern Soul-inspired Fashion:** The fusion of Northern Soul and Fashion reflects an opportunity for clothing brands to create innovative collections that pay homage to and celebrate regional cultures. - **Music-inspired Merchandise:** The use of band-inspired merchandise for fashion can have a disruptive effect on the industry through tapping into the emotional connection people have with music. - **Reworking Classic Pieces with Culture-focused Design:** Reworking classic pieces to include designs that focus on regional culture can provide clothing industry players with opportunities for delivering something unique to consumers. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Clothing Manufacturing:** Clothing manufacturers can create Northern Soul-inspired collections by reworking classic pieces while incorporating designs inspired by regional cultures. - **Music Merchandise Retail:** Retailers of music merchandise can disrupt the industry by adding fashion-inspired clothing to their merchandise offerings. - **Regional Tourism:** Regions with unique cultural identity can consider diversifying their tourism offerings by adding fashion or music-related events, allowing visitors to experience their regional culture in different ways. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Retro Tennis Collaboration](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/palace-x-fred-perry.md) - [Retro Nightclub-Themed Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/charles-jeffrey-loverboy-1.md) - [Collaborative Special Edition Jackets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fred-perry-and-beams.md) - [Manchester Street Legacy Clothing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/northern-quarter.md) - [Industrial Heritage-Honoring Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shaker-system.md) - [Archival-Inspired Fashion Capsule](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/martine-rose-and-napapijr.md) - [Americana Baseball Fashions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polo-ralph-lauren-x-new-york-yankees-collection.md) - [Punk Rock-Informed Fall Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/superculture-collection.md) - [Auto-Inspired Apparel Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/percival-x-ford.md)