By Jessica Ye (Jessica Yap)
In the dead of night, Cambridge’s rooftops once belonged to a secret society of students known as the Night Climbers. Scaling spires and shadowy courtyards, they turned the university’s historic architecture into their playground, documenting their exploits under the pseudonym Whipplesnaith, widely believed to be the pen name of author Noël H. Symington.
As KENT&CURWEN celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, that rebellious spirit forms the foundation of its Autumn/Winter collection. Under the direction of Chief Creative Director Daniel Kearns, the collection, titled Whipplesnaith, revisits the mythology of the Night Climbers, a clandestine group active in the 1930s whose members scaled university buildings under the cover of darkness in pursuit of forbidden vantage points and quiet defiance.
The collection was presented within the imposing halls of Westminster School in London, where ancient walls adorned with medieval crests provided a fitting backdrop for the brand’s hundred-year milestone. The setting reinforced the tension between heritage and rebellion that runs throughout the collection.
Long associated with the codes of British collegiate dressing, KENT&CURWEN approaches the season with a palette that moves from midnight blue and black into muted taupes, autumnal browns and soft greys. Brighter collegiate shades including red, lilac and burnt orange punctuate the collection, introducing moments of unexpected energy.
Familiar pieces of British wardrobe tradition appear throughout, though often with subtle shifts in proportion and texture. The classic trench coat is reimagined in patent finishes and sculpted silhouettes, while slim tailoring sits alongside softer volumes and deconstructed knitwear. Elsewhere, playful accessories and delicate corsage detailing provide a lighter counterpoint to the house’s recognisable embroidered insignias.
For readers of Couture Troopers, the collection illustrates how fashion continues to reinterpret history through contemporary design. By drawing from the mythology of the Night Climbers, KENT&CURWEN’s centenary offering suggests that even the most established traditions can accommodate a sense of curiosity and quiet rebellion.
