The Art of Staying Modern

Few British figures capture that rare mix of wit, elegance, and eccentricity quite like Bill Nighy. An actor who can turn a raised eyebrow into a full line of dialogue, he’s also someone who has, over the decades, defined his own particular strain of British cool – part Savile Row precision, part Soho nonchalance. How does he get more charismatic the older he gets? It feels entirely fitting, then, that John Smedley, the heritage knitwear brand synonymous with timeless craftsmanship and British manufacturing, should invite him to collaborate on a capsule collection that feels, quite literally, made in his image.

Bill has been a loyal Smedley wearer since he was seventeen — the fine gauge polo or cardigan his signature uniform long before stylists coined the term “quiet luxury.” This new partnership, decades in the making, doesn’t attempt reinvention so much as refinement. Together, Bill and the brand have designed a unisex collection that distills what both stand for: longevity, intelligence, and a sense of humour hidden in the details.

The collection reinterprets classic silhouettes – polos, waistcoats, cardigans – with tailored precision and a touch of nonchalance. Collars are a little larger, ribs more pronounced, fits are cropped and boxy. A deep navy dominates, naturally; understated, versatile, quietly confident. And then there are the personal signatures: a bird motif, sketched by Bill on scripts throughout his career, now embroidered into the knitwear; “Stay Modern” stitched discreetly into labels, a succinct manifesto that feels entirely him.

Each piece is made in England from John Smedley’s renowned fine merino, cashmere, and Sea Island cotton – materials that carry the brand’s two-century promise of quality. As Managing Director Jess McGuire-Dudley puts it, “Every decision was intentional, from fabric to fit.” It’s this attention to detail, rather than nostalgia, that grounds the collection. Anna Wintour, Bill's close friend, debuted the collaboration at the JW Anderson dinner during the most recent London Fashion Week. Anna in knit? Now that's a coup only Bill can pull off. 

In the end, Bill Nighy for John Smedley isn’t about celebrity or trend. It’s about alignment – of values, aesthetics, and a mutual belief that good design should outlast the season. Bill calls it “a frontline defiance” of flash and fad. Which feels exactly right. It’s British modernism, worn lightly – with a wink, a cuffed sleeve, and perhaps a gentle reminder, as he says, not to forget to disco.

Shop the collection on the 17th of October HERE