Liam Hodges. Shirt and shorts ensemble with design of Scouting badges by Tom Baxter. London, Spring-Summer 2015.

Black cotton-blend shirt and shorts woven with dense pattern of Boy Scout badges in yellow, green, red and white.

Given by Charlie Porter

This is part of a group of early 2010s menswear donated to the V&A by Charlie Porter, one of the most influential British menswear fashion journalists of the early 21st century. In 2000 Porter became deputy fashion editor for The Guardian, and since then, has worked as an associate editor for GQ and deputy editor for Fantastic Man. He currently writes for The Financial Times as their menswear critic, in addition to his freelance work, DJ-ing and maintaining an active blogging presence online. Porter is particularly known for his understanding of contemporary menswear and familiarity with developing streetwear and alternative trends.

At the time of acquiistion, Charlie Porter commented on this outfit:

"It's been a real pleasure watching Liam evolve. I was his external examiner on the menswear course at the Royal College of Art, and it was clear from his final collection that he had an real point of view, and something original to say with his menswear. Liam's a big guy, and cuts his clothes with a bloke-ish attitude. It's the total opposite of most menswear, which is done to the slimmest line possible. Liam plays with male tropes, and for this collection he created a series of his own scout badges in collaboration with his friend Tom Baxter. The result is a take on the tribes of men, with a hint of the delinquency that makes the attitude of his work so strong."

- Daniel Milford-Cottam
20/05/2016

T.106:1&2-2015