A move from the city to the Cotswolds has brought unexpected social activity and a new fashion collaboration for a recent local resident. Anticipating a quieter lifestyle, the individual instead found their schedule filled with a variety of social events including cocktail gatherings, dinners, restaurant openings, and occasional barn raves. The local village pub serves as a focal point for community interaction, bringing together a diverse group of residents ranging from fifth-generation locals and artists to CEOs, a High Court judge, a gamekeeper, and a Hollywood producer.
During one of these informal gatherings, a conversation about suitable country attire led to the launch of a new menswear collection. The discussion took place with Peter Williams, a fellow villager and co-founder of Jack Wills, who now runs the menswear brand Aubin. Having previously collaborated on tailoring collections for Tiger of Sweden, the pair decided to combine their efforts once again to create a capsule wardrobe inspired by the local surroundings.
The new collection, named Aubin by Ben Cobb, features refined pieces crafted from William Bliss Cotswolds tweed—produced near Chipping Norton at the historic Bliss Tweed Mill—and includes suiting, knitwear, corduroy trousers in claret and brown, cowboy shirts, along with outerwear such as greatcoats and scarves. The collection reflects a blend of traditional countryside style with contemporary design elements, aiming to offer practical yet elegant options for country living and trips to London.
The move to the Cotswolds has had a broader personal impact beyond fashion. The resident reports embracing a calmer lifestyle, engaging in gardening and Pilates, and appreciating the balance between rural tranquility and city life. Despite settling into their countryside home, a new challenge remains: learning to drive, having relocated without a driving license. Alongside these lifestyle changes, the household includes a cashmere Bengal cat named Sir Rodders.
To mark the collection's launch, a dinner was hosted at the village pub, underlining the close-knit nature of the community and the role of local settings in fostering creative ventures. Aubin by Ben Cobb is currently available for purchase through aubinandwills.com, offering a fresh interpretation of English country style shaped by friendship, place, and sartorial heritage.