Fox Trots marks Officine Paladino’s first collaboration with Fox Brothers & Co., one of Britain’s oldest and most respected mills.
For over 250 years, the historic institution has woven its cloths exclusively in Wellington, Somerset, remaining one of the few to do so continuously from the place where it all began. Best known as the inventor of the modern flannel, Fox Brothers’ cloths have been draped over generations of statesmen, actors, and tastemakers, building one of British textile manufacturing’s most enduring legacies.
The Fox Brothers mill in Wellington, Somerset.
When we first visited the mill in Somerset, it wasn’t the chattering of looms, though hypnotic they may be, that left the greatest impression.
It was the archive.
Dating back to 1773, it is a record of the past; a working library that continues to inspire cloths woven today. Page after page, preserved over centuries, revealed a company that had never stopped looking forward. As Douglas Cordeaux, Fox Brothers’ co-owner and Managing Director, puts it, “Being able to see the mill’s past vision drives new ideas. It challenges us to move forward, to invent and adapt.”
Inside the mill, where tradition informs every step.
That philosophy resonated immediately. Heritage should be a foundation for creativity. The best cloths endure because they continue to find relevance in a changing world.
From those conversations came Fox Trots.
Rather than starting from a blank sheet of paper, we chose to revisit one of the mill’s defining cloths: Fox Air. Introduced as a lightweight response to warmer climates, it has become one of Fox Brothers’ most celebrated summer qualities and, today, its best-selling collection worldwide.
Over the course of 18 months, the collection took shape through refined colour palettes, reworked patterns, and a newly developed mock leno woven from the same Fox Air yarns. The result is an opus comprising 20 exclusive articles: 15 Fox Air qualities alongside 5 mock lenos.
Rolls of Fox Trots, ready to be shipped globally.
The designs strike a careful balance between familiarity and surprise. Prince of Wales checks receive rust overchecks inspired by Officine Paladino’s signature orange, while traditional glen checks and stripes adopt softer palettes and more contemporary proportions. Elsewhere, tonal mock lenos introduce texture without sacrificing the airy character that has made Fox Air such a favourite for tropical tailoring.
The mock leno fabrics represent a particularly meaningful development. By pairing an open weave with Fox Air’s high-twist worsted yarns, the cloth achieves a distinct combination of breathability, resilience, and elegant drape. It is a reminder that innovation is often less about inventing something entirely new than bringing together existing ideas in thoughtful ways.
The Fox Trots label, inspired by the Fox Sport iconography.
Shared values made the collaboration feel natural from the outset. Of which, the belief in creating for longevity rather than chasing seasons. Equally important is a commitment to responsible manufacturing. From responsible sourcing and careful stewardship of its Somerset mill to its “sheep-to-suit” philosophy, Fox Brothers demonstrates that sustainability is most meaningful when it is woven into the way a company operates every day.
Vishal in a 6×1 DB suit, cut from OP2813 Moorland, mingling with guests during the launch of Fox Trots.
First unveiled during Pitti Uomo 110 in Florence, Fox Trots is now open for orders worldwide, with stocks available to be fulfilled from the United Kingdom and Singapore.
For Officine Paladino, Fox Trots marks the beginning of a conversation between two companies united by a shared belief that the finest cloths are never static. They evolve through curiosity and a willingness to look at familiar ideas with fresh eyes.
Like the ballroom dance that inspired its name, Fox Trots is built on balance, rhythm, and coordination. Two partners, moving in unison.
