“We’re a British brand, and certainly proud of it,” says Michael Hill, the co-owner and creative director of Drake’s. “But we have always drawn inspiration from our travels. The way the Japanese combine new ideas with a love of vintage, and their respect for craft and provenance, or the Italian approach to relaxed tailoring. Making the rules and then breaking them a little bit. That sense of discovery is what keeps us going.”

Founded in 1977 by Michael Drake and Hill’s father, Charles, Drake’s began life as a scarf and tie business, sourcing silks from family-owned Italian workshops that they still work with to this day. The ties are still made in London, too, alongside a shirt factory in Somerset. “We’re dedicated to making things the right way,” Hill says. “And working with the right people. I like to think of it as a fairly simple philosophy, but those are the relationships that make this business so rewarding.”

As part of Health In Mind, our initiative dedicated to helping men lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives, we’ve partnered with Drake’s on an exclusive capsule collection that brings together some of the brand’s classic pieces with a bit of a MR PORTER influence. There’s the signature relaxed Games suit in cotton ripstop, a heavy-duty shearling suede coat – made in Italy and fit for an old Hollywood legend – along with Shetland knitwear and relaxed shirting in seasonal checks.

To support the cause, we’re donating 100 per cent of profits from the first month of the capsule sales to our charity partner, Movember, the leading charity changing the face of men’s health.

Since taking over the creative helm in 2010, Hill has turned Drake’s into a brand with a clear vision. If you need a suit for a wedding or the work week, no problem. Or a new pair of jeans, a great winter coat, a jumper that’s just right, or something that will help you stand out – classic, well-made clothes with a bit of personality.

Drake’s has partnered with the likes of Aimé Leon Dore, taking a playful approach to New York streetwear, as well as the legendary restaurant St. John, featuring cotton moleskin chore jackets, vintage-looking work shirts and gilets inspired by those worn by the restaurant’s co-founder Trevor Gulliver during his travels around French vineyards.

The reason for that collaboration was pretty straightforward: Hill has been dining at St. John for years, with the original shirt factory just around the corner, while the restaurants owners are regular Drake’s customers. “It all goes back to working with people that you like and share similar values,” says Hill.

Drake’s is also adept at showcasing how the clothes can be worn out in the wild, an increasingly rare proposition these days. You might see a chore jacket on an artist in New York, or the team from the Savile Row shop gallivanting around Venice in made-to-order tailoring and winter outerwear. It’s aspirational and unstuffy. These are clothes that you can have a laugh in or, as the brand puts it when describing its signature Games suit, “utilitarian workwear you can fine-dine in.”

“Now,” as Hill said in a 2023 interview with Esquire, “it’s, what do I do? Where do I start? It’s harder to decide how to dress. There are more options now, and less rules. But, good! Because it’s exciting. You can really express something. And that should be enjoyable. It allows you to play a bit. And hopefully we can help with that.”