Few relationships in menswear feel as authentic as the one between Bill Nighy and John Smedley. Since the age of seventeen, Nighy has relied on the brand’s knits as constants in a life that has changed everywhere else. Now that lifelong allegiance has evolved into a capsule collection that feels more like a continuation than a collaboration.
John Smedley x Bill Nighy
The John Smedley x Bill Nighy capsule presents itself like an inside conversation between two old souls of British dressing. Nighy brings the observational cool that has defined his screen persona, part Mod survivor, part modernist philosopher, while John Smedley contributes its immaculate knit heritage, built on Sea Island cotton and fine-gauge merino.
The silhouettes are slightly altered with collars that are cut wider with bolder ribs and hems that sit shorter for a boxy unisex shape. Nighy also insisted on the inclusion of a merino and cashmere long john set, a nod to his own on-set ritual of wearing them under costume.
Color tells the rest of the story. Deep navy dominates, with brown and red as supporting characters. These are shades that belong to Nighy’s lifetime wardrobe, contributing to his public image. Labels are marked with the phrase “Stay Modern,” while an embroidered bird, adapted from a doodle he has drawn on scripts throughout his career, adds a private signature.
“If you’d told me when I was 17 that I’d be working with John Smedley to design a collection, I’d have arranged to be more cheerful in my early life,” Nighy said. The humor is self-contained, but the meaning clear: the collaboration is about affirmation.
As John Smedley Managing Director Jess Mcguire-Dudley explained, “Working with Bill was a true lesson in considered design – every decision was intentional, from fabric to fit. His genuine connection to the brand came through at every stage, from exploring the archive to the final fittings.”
Made in England, responsibly crafted, and designed to endure, the Bill Nighy for John Smedley collection will be available from October 17, 2025.
