Enduring Loves
Ex- Hardy Amies designer Mehmet Ali set up MEHM+ to create functional clothing with impeccable materials. Here he explains how his wardrobe reflects his philosophy
01/ Simplicity Holds Firm I’ve owned a lot of bags and worked with a lot of bag-makers, but I’ve been using this Porter bag I got in Japan for a while now. It’s a clever tote that transforms into a rucksack; and while it’s large enough to fit all I need, it can also be shrunk down. The idea that the best design isn’t always the flashiest appeals to me. — MA-1 Plus bag £420 ll-porter.com 02/ For Your Eyes Only I’ve been wearing variations of this frame for 10 years. It's called the Lemtosh and it’s handmade from Italian acetate. Moscot are all about customisation for the customer. There’s an attention to detail that often gets lost elsewhere. I found them on a design trip to New York, but they have stores in the UK now too. — Lemtosh glasses £220 moscot.com 03/ Weather The seasons These trousers are made of seersucker, which I love. This is a winter version made from a heavier thread. While traditionally a summer fabric, seersucker will still keep you warm in colder months thanks to its breathability – it’s like a temperature gauge. This aspect of clever fabric design is what’s at the heart of MEHM+. — Seersucker trousers (part of suit) MEHM+ 04/ Join The Hive Mind Previously I worked in west London, but I wanted to be somewhere more relaxed. Soho Works is a shared workspace in Shoreditch with lots of businesses operating under one roof. It’s helpful to have people from di erent disciplines around to force you to think di erently about things. — Soho Works sohoworks.com 05/ Change With The Times I wear this Rolex Submariner Date as a ‘day watch’. The ceramic bezel feels clean and sharp, and though the classic strap is steel, I’ve swapped it for an old Nato one which goes with everything from US retailer Gnomon Watches. Lots of people told me this would be hard to do, but it was surprisingly easy. — Rolex Submariner Date £6250 rolex.com 06/ Draw From Experience I still start by handdrawing all my initial designs on paper because it gives me a chance to work out problems early on. I’ll miss decisions if I don’t. I use a black, plastic, Japanesemade pencil that you can draw with for hours on end and never get tired. It’s designed in such a way that it’s always comfortable to hold. — Sakura pencil £4 jacksonsart.com