http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/07/fashion/mens-style/david-beckham-kent-curwen.html 2016-10-06 19:29:22 David Beckham Makes His Presence Felt at Kent & Curwen The international man of style hires the designer Daniel Kearns to update a venerable British brand. === LONDON — “I am definitely not the designer,” he said, looking in the direction of Daniel Kearns, who stood to the side, basking slightly sheepishly in the soccer superstar’s glow. “I wish that I had the time that Daniel has, and that my wife has, even though she tells me every day that she doesn’t have much time. But I don’t.” With that, Mr. Kearns, an Irish designer who had previously worked at Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and Façonnable before being hired a year ago by Mr. Beckham and his new business partners to revitalize the venerable British fashion house, talked about how he planned to update the many staples — like the cricket sweater, rugby shirt and hunting jacket — that went back to the company’s founding in 1926. Kent & Curwen For instance, he took the classic cricket sweater (the same one worn by the British film stars Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Errol Flynn when they played for the Hollywood Cricket Club in the 1930s) and updated it by adding a contrasting trim to its cable stitch and making it in soft lamb’s wool. And the body-hugging, midnight-blue pea coat Mr. Beckham wore that afternoon was “modernized in color and sizing,” Mr. Kearns said. “To keep that history was very important to me,” Mr. Beckham said. “Going through the archives was pretty incredible.” At Kent & Curwen, Mr. Kearns succeeds the British designer Simon Spurr, who left last year to take what turned out to be Hiring Mr. Kearns was the first big move that Mr. Beckham — who had The five-year contract stipulates that Kent & Curwen would be Mr. Beckham’s only apparel line and that Mr. Beckham would be “directly involved in product development, market expansion, advertising and store aesthetic.” The new collection will be available in November.