No sweat

Fans of the Festival of Speed can wear their passion on their sleeve – Ben Dickens’ luxurious new clothing range gives Goodwood’s motor-racing legacy a contemporary twist

Words by Catherine Peel

Above: the Letterman jacket from the first Goodwood Festival of Speed collection by Ben Dickens

Turning event wear into desirable fashion attire isn’t the easiest of tasks, but when design consultant Ben Dickens (ex Burberry and Tommy Hilfiger) was introduced to The Duke of Richmond last year by a mutual friend, he jumped at the opportunity. “Having lived in Amsterdam for five years, I had a rose-tinted view of everything and anything British,” Dickens says. “It was serendipity that brought me here – you can’t really get more British than Goodwood!” His debut collection includes nods to racing legacy such as laurels and the chequerboard, as one would expect. But Dickens, in discussion with The Duke and Marcus Black (a leading luxury fashion consultant), concluded that the new Festival of Speed collection, which includes T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and bomber jackets, needed to feel contemporary. “Physicality and movement is a huge focus of the festival, particularly with Future Lab – “How do we move now?” and “How will we move in the future?” are the questions on everyone’s lips. So, when it came to designing, it was about embracing the spirit of the past, but being much more forward-facing.”

Above all, the focus is on craftsmanship, quality, execution and attention to detail. As Black says: “We want to be proud of everything bearing the Goodwood name. To create products made from the finest yarns and materials, using the best manufacturers and techniques, was a must.”

The Revival collection, available this autumn, will draw on more vintage inspiration. “I’m fascinated by the history of the Estate as a whole, from The Kennels to aviation, motor racing, dogs and, of course, technology,” Dickens says. “What I hope is that we can bring a little Goodwood magic – that rare combination of an authentic past with a strong dash of innovation – so that the clothes feel relevant and desirable to a modern audience.” shop.goodwood.com.