WORDS BY JOSEPH FURNESS
Heron Preston is an exemplary streetwear brand: each collection consists of relaxed, bodacious pieces inspired by manifold sources. Founded by its namesake, the New York-based label strives to provide the out-of-the-box thinkers with a high-quality, multipurpose uniform they can rely on.
Here, we let you in on everything you ought to know about the brand and the designer – from the most popular Heron Preston collaborations to the sizing and fit of Heron Preston apparel.
Heron Preston – The Man Behind the Brand
Artist, designer, content creator and DJ Heron Preston may have been born in San Francisco, but New York City made him. During his early twenties, the designer moved to The Big Apple to attend Greenwich Village’s Parsons School of Design: a private art and design college which counts Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs and Emily Adams Bode as alumni.
Whilst studying at The New School college, Preston ran a blog documenting the style of New Yorkers, especially those who lived in the Downtown suburbs. The blog swiftly gained traction, which led to creative networking with two notable figures: Al Moran, the founder of West Hollywood’s Morán Morán and a man who needs no introduction, Virgil Abloh. The former offered Preston a publishing deal – which is how the designer’s photography book, The Young and the Banging, came to fruition – and the latter invited him to join Been Trill circa 2012.
Been Trill was a fashion and music collective that consisted of Virgil Abloh, Matthew Williams, Justin Saunders, YWP and Heron Preston. After working as Marketing Director and Social Media Specialist for Nike, he joined the crew which led to him securing the role of Art Director and Consultant for Kanye West.
In 2014, Heron Preston finally started to design pieces under his own moniker. First up was the “FLAMES WAVES” collection, created for Nick Knight’s fashion website, SHOWstudio. This project allowed Preston to trial different motifs and details, including the Russian word for style, СТИЛЬ, that's now indivisible with the brand.
Two years later, the designer teamed up with the DSNY (the New York City Sanitation Department) for his first collection. Titled UNIFORM, the limited-edition, zero-waste collection was officially launched at the Spring Street Salt Shed in New York City.
Heron Preston’s preoccupation with uniforms stems from his childhood: his father is an ex-police officer who was always suited up for his shifts. Whilst growing up on the West Coast, Preston became fixated with the concept of workwear, which explains why he’s concerned with creating a uniform for streetwear subcultures.
Soon after the DSNY collaboration was released, the world’s style connoisseurs were scrambling to secure a Heron Preston piece. To cater to the demand, the designer created his first seasonal collection for his namesake brand and debuted it at Paris Fashion Week Men’s. Titled “For You, The World”, the 2017 collection caught the attention of everyone in the fashion capital at the time. The entire line was made available on Preston’s website HPC Trading Co. later that year.
Ever since, the Heron Preston brand – now part of the New Guards Group – has gone from strength to strength. Keep reading to find out more about the Heron Preston collaborations and the sizing and fit of Heron Preston pieces.
Heron Preston Collaborations
Heron Preston x CAT
Heron Preston’s collaboration with construction equipment company Caterpillar (CAT) makes total sense considering the New York-based designer’s chief source of inspiration is workwear. Preston honours the brand’s heritage by deconstructing and reconstructing pieces – such as tees, caps and track pants – and adorning them with the unmistakable CAT logo.
Heron Preston x Levi’s
For Spring/Summer 2020, the label teamed up with American denim experts Levi’s for the “MISTAKES ARE OK” collaboration. As suggested by the name, the collaboration celebrates oddities – or, as Preston puts it, “conscious aberrations” – via norm-breaking apparel adorned with wrongly-placed patches, asymmetric prints and distorted pockets.
Heron Preston x NASA
To toast to NASA’s 60th anniversary – and raise awareness about the rising issue of space waste – Heron Preston took cues from the independent agency’s space suits and uniforms and translated them into a 31-piece capsule collection. Constructed with high-tech materials, utilitarian details and astronaut-inspired silhouettes, the patriotic drop was released in 2018 – five years after the designer initially reached out to NASA about designing spacesuits.
Heron Preston for Calvin Klein
Designer Heron Preston recently worked beyond the confines of his label to collaborate with Calvin Klein. The extensive collection consists of luxe wardrobe essentials created with a contemporary twist – think oversized denim, safety orange boxer briefs and caps decorated with exposed label stitching.
Heron Preston Sizing and Fit
Heron Preston Sizing: T-Shirts and Shirts
If you’re in the market for a Heron Preston tee or shirt, we suggest you stick to your true size if you’re happy to embrace the brand’s oversized fit or size down if you’re more comfortable with a regular fit. Personally, we’re team oversized.
Heron Preston Sizing: Sweatshirts & Hoodies
In our opinion, sweatshirts and hoodies look and feel better when they’re slightly baggy; plus, you want to make sure you can (comfortably) wear a layer or two underneath. If you agree, opt for your normal size when purchasing a Heron Preston sweatshirt or hoodie; if you disagree, opt for a size down.
Heron Preston Sizing: Jackets and Coats
Heron Preston jackets and coats offer a more true to size fit than shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies – however, they’re still pretty generous. We’d recommend sticking to your true size when purchasing a Heron Preston outerwear piece – that’s unless you prefer to let your clothes wear you.
Heron Preston Sizing: Trousers and Shorts
Like the brand’s selection of jackets and coats, Heron Preston trousers and shorts are designed to fit true to size. So, no matter if it’s a pair of bright orange Heron Preston jersey shorts that’s captured your attention, or a pair of modish Heron Preston patchwork jeans, we’d recommend sticking with your customary size.
Heron Preston Sizing: Dresses
The Heron Preston label keeps things simple when it comes to their dresses: by and large, every dress fits as it should. For this reason, we would advise you to opt for your true size when shopping for Heron Preston dresses to achieve the desired look.
Heron Preston Sizing: Sneakers
Heron Preston’s sneaker line is made to fit true to size; however, do be warned that the brand’s super-sleek vulcanized low-top leather sneakers may need a bit of stretching out before they feel comfortable. We guess that’s a consequence of purchasing top-notch sneakers.