For Autumn/Winter 2026, Manchester brand Gander is looking closer to home. The label has turned its attention towards the people, places and personalities that have helped shape its story from the beginning.
The result is an AW26 collection that feels deeply connected to Manchester. Its latest editorial acts as an ode to the individuals who have hosted, supported and influenced Gander throughout its journey, bringing together local characters, familiar landmarks and the energy of the Northern city.
Instead of relying on a conventional modelling roster, Gandef placed real people at the heart of the campaign. From a local vintage seller with an extensive archive to a self-taught maker known for producing hand-sewn pieces, the cast reflects the community that exists around the brand.
Shot against the red-brick backdrop of Ancoasts, the campaign captures Manchester’s atmosphere, where the industrial history is balanced with the brand’s playful approach. Short three-to-six second clips sit alongside still imagery taken directly from the campaign film.
The Peveril Jacket
Leading the collection is the Peveril Jacket, a silhouette that holds particular importance within Gander’s story as the piece that started the brand.
For this season, the jacket is reworked in 100% waxed cotton, with a double-sided high-density twill construction that provides a windproof finish. A drawstring runs through the hem and hood, while the jacket features a distinctive Gander cuff pattern, dolman sleeves and stormflap buttons across the front.
The Cottonopolis Jacket
Manchester’s industrial history becomes even more explicit with the Cottonopolis Jacket, which takes its name from the city’s association with the cotton and wool industries during the 19th century.
The jacket is constructed using cotton yarn and Australian wool, woven on jacquard machines before undergoing a shrinkage process designed to help retain its shape and warmth.
The resulting fabric gives the jacket a strong textural quality, while details including frayed seams across the body add a unfished look. Gander branding is also sprayed onto the underside of the collar, creating a relatively hidden detail.
Wool Peveril Jacket
The Wool Peveril Jacket takes the Peveril silhouette in a different direction, coming in a Blue Check colourway.
Cut from a blend of Australian wool and fine alpaca, the fabric has a soft and fluffy feel, with lighter and darker tones mixed with subtle spots of colour throughout. The texture gives the otherwise structured jacket a more relaxed and tactile character.
Its construction remains faithful to the original Peveril. The stand collar sits lower at the front before rising towards the back, while a custom button closure provides the fastening. Two gusset pockets sit across the body, with a toggle adjuster finishing the hem.
The Le Mans Shirt
Completing the collection’s hero pieces is the Le Mans Shirt, which draws from workwear archives.
Its roomy, boxy cut gives the shirt a relaxed silhouette, while a full bottom placket, buttoned collar and snap-adjustable hem add practical details to the construction.
For AW26, Gander introduces the Le Mans in a Blue/Grey pinstripe fabric made from a wool-acrylic blend sourced from Japan. The material gives the traditionally utilitarian silhouette a more elevated finish, creating a piece that sits somewhere between classic workwear and contemporary everyday dressing.
Bringing the Community Into the Studio
Ahead of the AW26 release, brand is opening the door to each studio as 3 Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DM, giving customers the opportunity to experience the collection in person before its official release on Wednesday 26th August.
The open studio is designed as something more intimate than a conventional launch. Visitors can take their time with the garments, examine the materials and constructions up close, and speak directly with the people involved in making the collection.
