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- 1991 (Creation)
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Soul II Soul is a British musical collective formed by Jazzie B (Trevor Beresford Romeo) (b. 1963). They opened a clothing and records shop in Camden in 1982. The Camden store was the first of three London locations that sold the Soul II Soul clothing collection. By the mid-1980s, the Camden store had developed into a mecca for Soul II Soul fans, musicians and DJs looking for Funki Dred (an illustration based on a cartoon by Derek Yates that became an identifiable image for the label) clothing, sound equipment and records. Soul II Soul expanded their retail business, adding a store on Tottenham Court Road and one in Camden High Street which sold the brand’s record and clothing stock. These included leather jackets, belt packs and long shirts with a drawstring hood made of a lightweight fabric. In 1990 the group's live shows would often start with a fashion show. In 1992 there were plans to expand the brand’s retail presence by launching a chain of franchise outlets, with plans to open another store in London and one in Manchester before expanding to fifty throughout the UK. However, the London stores shut in the mid-1990s.
The brand was relaunched in 2009 with a small capsule collection for Spring Summer 2010, consisting of T-shirts, sweats, jackets and accessories. In April 2013, Jazzie B launched the Soul II Soul ‘Classics’ Collection at Harvey Nichols in London. The
Classics Collection featured T-shirts and sweatshirts with Soul II Soul’s Funki Dred logo. In 2023 Soul II Soul continue to sell its clothing range online.
Sources: Design Week; Drapers; The New York Times; The Washington Post.
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From Inside the Westminster Menswear Archive:
LEATHER FLIGHT JACKET
Soul II Soul
1991
This leather jacket was produced by Soul II Soul, a British musical collective and fashion label founded by Jazzie B (Trevor Beresford Romeo) in 1982. In 1989, Soul II Soul had a string of top-ten singles and a number one album, Club Classics Vol. One, which was also certified double platinum
in the United States. They continued to produce clothing that also served as the group’s merchandise. The back of the jacket features the ‘Funki Dred’ logo designed by graphic designer Derek Yates. The top layer of black leather has been removed to reveal a blue leather layer with padding underneath. Inside the garment is a label that reads, ‘Exclusive designs from Riaz Leathers London’. It is likely based on a pre-existing Riaz design, with the embroidered motif added to the back.
Leather
Archive no. 2021.37