Gander AW26: Manchester Menswear, Recut

Manchester menswear label Gander returns to its roots for Autumn/Winter ’26, turning the lens towards the people, places and local characters that have shaped the brand since its beginning.

Rather than building another campaign around a conventional modelling cast, Gander’s latest editorial features real people connected to the brand, from vintage dealers and self-taught makers to the Manchester landmarks that have become part of its visual language. Shot around Ancoats, the campaign has the dry, irreverent quality you would expect from a label born in the city. The clothes are equally grounded in Gander’s approach to functional menswear.

The Peveril Jacket, the style that established the brand, returns in 100% waxed cotton. Its double-sided high-density twill is windproof, while a drawstring hood and hem, dolman sleeves, Gander cuff pattern and stormflap buttons retain the jacket’s recognisable construction. The Cottonopolis Jacket looks further into Manchester’s industrial history, combining cotton yarn with Australian wool, woven on jacquard machines. A shrinkage process gives the fabric structure and warmth, while frayed seams and branding beneath the collar keep the finish distinctly Gander.

For a softer proposition, the Wool Peveril Jacket arrives in blue check, cut from Australian wool and fine alpaca. Its low-front, high-back stand collar, gusset pockets and toggle-adjusted hem preserve the Peveril silhouette without simply repeating it. The Le Mans Shirt closes out the hero pieces with a workwear-derived, boxy cut in a Japanese blue-grey wool-acrylic pinstripe. A full bottom placket, buttoned collar and snap-adjustable hem keep the detailing practical.

Gander’s AW26 is less interested in presenting Manchester as a backdrop than treating it as part of the clothing itself.