With the unpredictable Spring weather now firmly with us, we thought it was our duty to present you with a recap of some of the finest pieces of outerwear to reach here at End. This considered selection ranges from the traditional to the contemporary with pieces from Mackintosh, Engineered Garments, Our Legacy, Band of Outsiders and more.

Ranging from lightweight anoraks, through to more substantial pieces, we’ve tried to incorporate something to help you deal with the changeable conditions, no matter what the situation. We’ve even included some of the best shirts, knits, shoes and legwear for the season to give you an idea of how to team them up.

For a more detailed look at outerwear selection, please visit the Jackets & Coats section of our website…

Red wing Shoes was founded in 1905 in the city of Red Wing, Minnesota, initially supplying workers in local factories and Minnesota’s iron mines with the sturdy, protective and comfortable footwear they needed. Crafted from the finest durable leathers with rugged soles, Red Wing boots were perfect for all kinds of work, from farming to hard labour, and the word soon spread from coast to coast, making their footwear popular with workers across America. During the first world war, Red Wing were the primary producers of footwear for U.S. troops, and they continued this tradition into WWII. Ever the innovators, Red Wing introduced the steel toe in 1934, launched the world’s first mobile shoe store in 1940, and in the 1950s expanded their range to include the iconic 877 and 875 hunting boots, which led to success on a global scale.

Today, the company still manufacture in Kentucky, Missouri and of course, Red Wing City, Minnesota. They continue to use traditional methods, Goodyear welted construction and the highest quality materials, ensuring that every pair of Red Wing shoes is as durable and comfortable as ever. For Spring/Summer 2012 we have picked a wide range of Red Wing’s most iconic Heritage styles, from the moccasin-toe 6″ work boot and work oxford, round toe 6″ boots and work chukka, through to the classic 9185 ‘Wabasha’ boot. Red Wing have introduced a number of new styles this season, including the handsewn boat oxford – a premium take on the classic boat shoe, made with a thick plantation crepe wedge sole, hand stitched in Maine, the traditional home of moccasin shoemaking. Also new to End is the ’200′ series, available in 6″ boot and moc toe oxford form, constructed from Oxblood ‘Mesa’ leather, with an oil resisting Neoprene Cushion sole, as per the original 1940s silhouettes.

With a range this diverse and broad, we would advising heading over to the Red Wing Section for a proper look.

For this season’s collection Neighborhood have taken inpiration from a cult classic, 1987 film, Less Than Zero. Based on the Brett Easton Ellis novel of the same name, the movie centres around Julian, played by Robert Downey Jr. a character whose wardrobe of trench coats, classic shirting and wayfarers brought him style icon status, despite his excessive lifestyle. Using this as a catalyst, Neighborhood take a number of looks from the film and update them in their own, unique way, with novel detailing inspired by American counter culture and military surplus.

As well as the numerous film references, SS12 also features numerous NBHD conerstone pieces, such as premium 14oz denim pants and their hugely popular Kendall Chino. Alongside this are their latest tees – as ever drawing heavily on the iconography of US biker gangs – and premium shirts, based on archive workwear and western silhouettes. As if that weren’t enough, there is also the latest instalment in the long running collaboration series with Fragment Design, with an innovative reworking of the Channel 7 shirt.

As ever, numbers are extremely limited, we’d recommend heading over to the Neighborhood Section now, before you miss out.

One of the most highly anticipated additions to the End brand list for 2012, WTAPS has garnered a devoted cult following with its unique military-inspired range, which is crafted with pride to the highest level of quality. WTAPS was launched in 1996 in Harajuku, Tokyo by founder Tetsu ‘Tet’ Nishiyama, with the concept of “placing things where they should be”. This philosophy means that function, necessity and utility inform the design of every item WTAPS produce, with every aspect and design detail considered individually, in order to maximise the overall potential of each piece.

The WTAPS Spring/Summer 2012 collection is entitled “Better Than Yesterday”, referencing the designer’s aim of taking classic styles and improving them by reconsidering their design. Our first drop from the collection includes everything from some incredible selvedge oxford shirting, to classic sneakers and a highly technical parka. A true standout piece for this season is the supremely comfortable warmup hoody, which is constructed from a cotton-blend fabric with a velvet-like handle, with bold leopard print panelling. Some of the more easy to wear pieces include heavyweight cotton jersey logo hoodies in a range of colours, and some military chinos with a great slim fit.

Uncompromising attention to detail and commitment to quality can be seen in every WTAPS product, evident in the choice of materials and packaging, quality of construction, functional details and considered, subtle approach to styling and branding. What this means for the consumer is that a WTAPS product will always be fit for purpose, and outperform lesser products in function, style and durability.

For a closer look at all the details, head over to the WTAPS section now.

The latest drop from Fjallraven harks back to the Swedish label roots, with a collection that is as every bit as modern and technical as it was when first released in the 1960′s. Translating as ‘arctic fox’, Fjällräven was founded by Åke Nordin, originally producing durable rucksacks and thermal tents, and these outdoor essentials would go on to be the backbone of the Swede’s obsession with developing the perfect outdoor jacket.

Working from his Örnsköldsvik base, a young Åke was charged with providing much of the kit to members of the Greenland Exploration of 1966, yet it had became apparent that the outdoor clothing of the time was simply not up to the rigours of polar exploration – Nordin was inspired to create something that was. Nordin constructed the first Fjällräven jacket using materials which had been deemed too heavy for tents. Developing this prototype further, he took inspiration from locals who waxed their skis, using a mix of bees’ wax and paraffin, this treatment gave his prototype jacket a water resistant and durable edge over the outdoor jackets about at the time. Soon the original Greenland was born…

Spring Summer 2012 sees the reintroduction of that original Fjällräven jacket, the Greenland No.1. Originally released in 1968, it resembles more of a hooded overshirt, with two flap cover chest pockets instead of the side pockets seen on more recent versions. The jacket is constructed from Fjällräven’s very own G-1000 Eco® fabric which adds durability to what is a simple, lightweight silhouette, ideal for every day wear. As well as the Greenland, the collection is littered with classic silhouettes from the Fjällräven archives, with the Fjell Parka, Nordli and Skogsö all utilising the G-1000 Eco® in refreshing hues such as Pumpkin and Uncle Blue, delivering a classic yet contemporary twist to the label’s showcase pieces. The collection is bookended by the ever-popular Kanken Backpack series which is available in a myriad of colours, the thermolite woven Tall Shirt and the Travel Jacket. A new addition to the Fjällräven roster, the Travel Jacket has a strong tailored, Hacking Jacket-like silhouette which still retains it’s outdoor credentials with G-1000 Eco® construction and high fastening collar with a subtle storm flap.

For a closer look at the collection, please visit the Fjällräven section of the site…

Last year saw the release of the inaugural Nike Sportswear NSW ‘Made in Italy’ collection. The concept for this on-going project is to create modern sportswear without compromise, offering the ultimate in style, performance and quality. With this in mind, the collection utilises a combination of the finest technical and luxury materials, and each piece is manufactured in some of Italy’s most prestigious artisan factories and workshops – whose main clients include Stone island and C.P. Company – allowing NSW unprecedented access to some of the most exclusive fabrics and production methods available.

For the SS12 collection, the NSW design team drew inspiration from Rugby in anticipation of the 2012 Six Nations Tournament. A key piece in the capsule range is the Nike 1823 Rugby Shirt, which has been given a premium upgrade with panelled wool and cotton construction. Other iconic Nike pieces such as the Destroyer and Windrunner jackets have been reimagined with innovative new silhouettes and detailing, constructed in luxury materials such as perforated calfskin nubuck leather and a cotton/silk blend, as well as technical fabrics such as RipStop Nylon. As a finishing touch, indicative of the level of quality and attention to detail present throughout the collection, all zippers used are Italian-made ‘Lampo’ zips by Lanfranchi.

For a closer look at the Nike Sportswear Made in Italy SS12 Collection, visit the Nike NSW section now.

Launched for Spring 2012 by Daiki Suzuki protégé Shinya Hasegawa, Batten Sportswear is a label that has it’s roots in surf culture and vintage clothing, mixing functionality with a laidback, casual aesthetic to create one of the most anticipated new brands of the season.

After graduating from New York’s esteemed F.I.T., Shinya continued his education working under Daiki Suzuki at Woolrich Woolen Mills, who was looking for someone with a background in vintage clothing. The influence of his time spent with the Engineered Garments designer is apparent, and this eye for functional, yet classically styled clothing is seamlessness combined with numerous references to vintage surfwear from the late 1960′s and 70′s, where the design of outerwear similarly went beyond utility clothing to fashion. Shinya’s passion for East coast culture is also there for all to see, even down to the swingtags on the products which vary from piece to piece, some listing a glossary of surfing terminology, a simple map of Brooklyn or a list of all of National Parks in the USA, perfectly displaying the foundations of Batten Sportswear.

The first collection from Batten Sportswear fuses great, utility-inspired design and relaxed silhouettes with pastel hues and bold pattens. The backbone of the collection is of course outerwear, inspired by mountaineering as much as it is surfing, and expertly crafted – as with all Batten pieces – in the USA. The Travel Shell Parka is functional masterpiece with pockets galore, available in a traditional cotton or a more durable in a 60/40 guise. The Packable Anorak is also heavily functional piece, with an easy to wear silhouette, constructed in both premium cotton or Taslan nylon, both of which are perfect for temperamental Springtime weather. The collection is backed up with printed cotton tees, bold print shirts and simple, block colour board shorts, with Daypacks available for those who like to take more than just a surfboard down to the beach.

The first collection from Shinya Hasegawa is now available at the Batten Sportswear section of the website…..