Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Yard Act launch clothing collaboration with Blue Flowers on trench coats, denim jackets and more
Yard Act have partnered with Manchester independent label Blue Flowers on a limited-edition clothing range, now available for pre-order, marking a formal return to the trench coat look that defined the Leeds band's early image. Frontman James Smith became closely associated with the outerwear during the group's first releases and live shows, even prompting the 2023 song "Trench Coat Museum" about stepping away from the persona it created, making this collaboration something of a full-circle moment for the band's visual identity.
The range includes a trench coat, denim jacket and earflap hat, with the coat featuring paintings of each band member by Smith on its inside lining, continuing his recent public art output following two paintings displayed at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition until 23 August. The launch follows the release of Yard Act's third album, "You're Gonna Need A Little Music", and the first 100 buyers of the trench coat or denim jacket will receive a signed print of the album artwork on 325 GSM art card; stock is limited and items are available to pre-order now.
In short
- Yard Act and Blue Flowers launch limited clothing range, including trench coats
- Coat's lining features band member paintings by frontman James Smith
- First 100 buyers get signed album artwork prints
Explained simply
Yard Act are a Leeds-based rock band who rose to prominence in the early 2020s and became visually defined by the trench coat, a garment closely associated with frontman James Smith during their earliest releases and live performances. As the band matured, they moved away from this image, and Smith addressed the subject directly in a 2023 song called "Trench Coat Museum" that explored stepping out of the persona that outfit had created. This new project with Manchester independent label Blue Flowers represents a return to that foundational visual identity.
The collaboration will produce a range of clothing including trench coats, denim jackets and earflap hats. James Smith, who has increasingly pursued visual art alongside his music, has incorporated his own work into the designs; his paintings have recently been displayed at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, and he has painted each band member directly onto the inside lining of the coats. The project connects the band's musical journey with Smith's developing practice as a visual artist.