Welcome to the club

The preppy look never seems to go out of style; a new collaboration takes the concept – and production – back to its American roots, says Rebecca Gonsalves

When Club Monaco launched in the UK last February during London Fashion Week, there was considerable excitement for the US-based brand's expansion into Europe. Founded in Toronto in 1985, and headquartered in New York, our friends across the Pond have long been fond of Club Monaco's classic wardrobe staples and stylish separates.

Now a new collaboration with marketing consultant and menswear blogger Michael Williams, of A Continuous Lean, marks a further expansion. Specifically, it will appear in Anthem, an east London boutique founded by Simon Spiteri that recently celebrated its first birthday. Formerly a buyer for the department store Liberty, Spiteri has brought an exceptional knowledge of contemporary menswear to his project and being the sole stockist of Club Monaco's new "Made in the USA" collection is testament to that.

In the provenance of suits, shirts, jeans and ties, the brand reflects its distinctly American style as well as its investment in manufacturing traditions that are at threat. Classic casual shirts in chambray and checked flannel were made in Ashland, Pennsylvania, ties in New York, while tailored separates in navy, charcoal, olive and black come from Washington, Maryland.

"More than anything, Made in the USA is about preserving these people that have practised their craft for a long time," Williams says. "We're giving guys the option to say, 'I want to buy something that's going to last a long time.' And that's what we've done with this collection."

Spiteri, who at Anthem stocks menswear from Dries Van Noten, Comme des Garçons and Folk, certainly agrees on the lasting appeal of Americana. "We have been long-term admirers of all aspects of Americana," says Spiteri with his business partner Jeremy Baron. "To introduce such an iconic brand to the UK, that places emphasis on simple classics which are made in the correct way – fits in perfectly with our aesthetic."