Fishing Gear Is The New Fashion

Hook, Line, and Sinker: How Angling Attire Conquered High Fashion

A fresh style has seized the fashion world’s imagination, travelling from quiet riverbanks to bustling city streets. Waders once created for deep water now seem suitable for an art exhibition. Vests, covered in pouches and cut unusually short, are a frequent spectacle in metropolitan cafes. This is the angling aesthetic, a major trend that has left many people pondering the reasons a large number of non-fishers are embracing the look. The style has finally cemented its place with summer’s onset. This phenomenon, however, invites questions regarding authenticity, culture, and the growing divide between a trend and the heritage it borrows from.

A Tale of Two Tides

On closer analysis, this fishing-inspired movement divides into two separate streams. The first offers a broad maritime feeling instead of a rigid uniform. It is composed of striped tops, baggy khaki trousers, and traditional cable-knit sweaters. Fashion labels such as Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger have displayed sea-faring-influenced collections on their latest runways. This look is a progression from the ‘coastal grandma’ style, a womenswear phenomenon from several years back. It conveys a laid-back, subtle, and shore-friendly sensibility. Numerous style tutorials suggest that most individuals already have the essential elements for this look.

The Rise of Anglercore

The second, more precise interpretation of the style is called ‘anglercore’. It takes direct cues from the universe of fly-fishing. This branch is more literal in its take, going past simple inspiration toward outright appropriation. Menswear shops in fashion centres like Tokyo and New York are reporting that vests with many pouches are quickly selling out. Traditional suppliers have experienced a revenue increase from men who have never held a fishing rod. These buyers are eager to embrace a look that copies the equipment of experienced fishermen, forging a new uniform for the stylish city-dweller.

From River to Runway

High fashion has completely adopted the anglercore style. A Japanese label, South2 West8, has risen to prominence and is lauded for creating fashionable clothing that is also effective during angling. The brand’s Spring/Summer 2025 offerings perfectly embody this hybrid model. Smaller Japanese brands like Creek Angler’s Device have also attracted a dedicated following. Their limited-run vests and jackets sell out almost immediately at pop-up events in SoHo, frequently purchased in large quantities by stylists. This quick progression turns practical equipment into exclusive status symbols, securing fishing’s surprising position in elevated fashion circles.

The Gorpcore Connection

Anglercore did not just appear out of nowhere. It signifies a distinct development of ‘gorpcore’, a larger movement that is influencing streetwear in 2025. Gorpcore celebrates practical, technical outdoor apparel for daily city life. It focuses on resilient fabrics, weather-resistant qualities, and useful features. This phenomenon had already established hiking boots, cargo pants, and fleece jackets as urban essentials. Anglercore builds upon this by introducing the unique utility of fishing vests and waders into the gorpcore world. It connects with the identical consumer yearning for clothes that appear tough, proficient, and ready for anything.

An Authentic Appeal

For many, the draw of anglercore is rooted in the gear’s genuineness. Followers of this style are usually not looking for a luxury label’s take on a piece of fishing attire. They would rather purchase from the original, legacy brands that have served fishermen for generations. A feeling persists that a version from a fashion house would be an imitation. In the realm of work-oriented clothing, many men value the integrity of the genuine article over something that feels contrived. This search for the real thing is a primary force behind the trend's momentum.

Function Becomes Form

A reverse kind of style is at work inside the anglercore phenomenon. The majority of the apparel is made for utility, with scant primary thought given to aesthetics. Its worth is understood through its purpose-driven construction. The workwear company Montbell from Japan has a motto, "Function is beauty," which neatly captures this philosophy. These items look the way they do for a highly practical purpose. This dismissal of standard style in favour of unadulterated usefulness has, paradoxically, emerged as a compelling fashion statement. The attire signals a rugged skill that many find attractive.

A Pocket for Everything

Vests for fly-fishing provide a perfect illustration of function-led construction. Their short cut is designed to keep pocket contents from getting wet while a fisherman is standing deep in a stream. The abundant quantity of pockets is not for looks; it is a practical requirement. A fisherman's vest, according to Mark Bowler, the editor of Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine, is a portable tackle container. It carries spools of nylon line, floats, and various weights. The vest also holds different containers for dry flies, nymphs, and lures, in addition to multiple instruments like scissors, forceps, and clippers.

Image Credit - Men Today

More Than Just Tackle

A fly-fishing vest's contents extend beyond tackle. A fisherman might also have leaders, visual bite aids, and magnifying lenses, Bowler explains. There might be a tool for dislodging hooks, a hydration pack in a rear compartment, and perhaps a set of scales to weigh a big catch. Certain vests are made to carry tungsten putty to alter line density. This intense degree of utility underscores the trend's paradox. Very few of the tastemakers showing off these vests in urban settings will ever put the item to its designated use, much less understand the role of each compartment.

The Urban Angler’s Paradox

The gap between the equipment’s intended function and its trendy use is wide. It is frequent to see these technical vests paired with high-end trainers and designer denim, with their numerous compartments holding not much more than a mobile phone and a bank card. Some vests even come with sophisticated elements that appear preposterous in a city setting. Specific models, for example, have a built-in flotation device. Should the person fall into water, the garment is made to inflate. This degree of extreme technicality has become part of the allure.

High-Profile Collaborations

The fashion business has moved swiftly to leverage the trend. Now, streetwear labels and fishing equipment firms are releasing co-branded apparel lines. In one prominent case, Drake, the music artist from Canada, worked with Nike’s Nocta division and Abel Reels to create a special fly-fishing reel. Not long ago, the store END. Clothing joined forces with Adidas for a "Flyfishing" collection. This venture included shoes and a line of clothes, such as angling waistcoats and cargo pants, which fused classic looks with contemporary streetwear. Such ventures add legitimacy to the style and broaden its influence.

Japan’s Influence on the Trend

A large part of the anglercore style’s look originates from Japan. The nation has a deep-rooted fly-fishing culture, especially the pared-down Tenkara style, which requires only a rod, line, and fly. This emphasis on minimalism and utility has profoundly shaped Japanese fashion. Labels such as South2 West8 and the specialized brand Creek Angler's Device have skillfully reimagined practical fishing equipment as tools for personal expression. Their success points to a larger cultural convergence where functional outdoor wear is raised to the level of fine fashion, a development Japan has long pioneered.

A Familiar Current

Utilitarian work clothing is not a recent fashion development. For many years, men who have never performed manual work have embraced brands such as Dickies and Carhartt. The angling look has also surfaced before in fashion cycles. The Aran sweater was a celebrated jumper in 2015, while hats and oilskins in a fisherman style were widespread in 2016. Fly-fishing was even touted as "menswear's next wave" in 2019 by GQ. This recurring theme points to an enduring fascination with garments designed with a function that conveys a sense of hardy genuineness.

The Tyler Feather Incident

A striking historical case shows fashion's significant influence on specialized hobbies. A well-known rock musician once made it popular to wear long, fine rooster feathers. These exact feathers were a vital component for the fly-tying hobby. Suddenly, hair stylists began calling angling shops, offering to pay top dollar for the grizzly hackle. The ensuing demand led to a critical scarcity, compelling some shopkeepers to conceal their inventory and offer it discreetly to their established clientele, making the sale feel like an underground transaction.

An Editor’s Scepticism

Even with the trend's high visibility, people inside the angling world are mostly unconvinced. Many fishermen voice a profound disbelief regarding the movement. They cannot imagine a point where they would view their fishing equipment as a fashion statement for the public. For them, and others like them, angling represents a refuge from people and the strains of modern life. The very last thing they hope to encounter while appreciating a river's quiet is another individual, particularly one who is merely dressing up as a fisherman. This viewpoint underscores the cultural gap at the trend's foundation.

A Crisis in the Real World

While fashion fawns over the fisherman's attire, the United Kingdom's real fishing sector is confronting major difficulties. The country's fishing fleet is experiencing a protracted downturn. From 2008 to 2022, the number of small boats—those under 10 metres—declined by more than 22%. These smaller craft constitute the bulk of the fleet and are crucial for seaside towns. Moreover, the workforce is getting older; the typical worker's age is now 44, which is four years higher than the 2021 figure. Finding skilled staff is a primary challenge, endangering the industry's viability.

Waders Get a Makeover

As the conventional industry faces hardship, the look of performance fishing equipment is becoming more style-aware. Even waders, previously just practical PVC items, are now made in slimmer silhouettes from lighter, more breathable fabrics. Some models have belts to give the user a more defined silhouette. Companies like Montbell now create chest-high waders that someone could believably put on for an art show. The Japanese label South2 West8 is also recognized for making fashionable equipment that is still functional for angling, obscuring the distinction between utility and appearance.

Image Credit - Gear Junkie

The High Price of Style

This marriage of fashion and utility frequently carries a hefty price. A trendy fly vest from a style-conscious label like South2 West8 could be priced at over £350. This is a massive difference from the cost of an authentic vest from a standard fishing outfitter, which can be had for under £30. The elevated cost of these trendy pieces brings up questions about their actual use. Someone owning such a pricey item would probably be reluctant to let it get damp or soiled, which would negate its primary function and cement its position as a purely decorative object.

Will Hipsters Head to the River?

A central query is whether this style movement could spark true engagement with angling. Can the equipment steer hipsters from urban environments to the water’s edge? Certain partnerships are designed specifically to make the activity more inviting for beginners. Yet, there is scant proof that this is occurring widely. While fishing's visibility has grown through television, being a passive observer differs greatly from being an active participant. Official figures reveal a consistent drop in sales of fishing permits in England since 2010.

A Fading Fleet’s Legacy

A comparable narrative exists for marine fishing. During the 1980s, the Hastings fishing community operated a fleet of over 40 boats. At present, just a small number of those vessels are in regular operation. This reduction is reflected in coastal towns throughout the UK. The juxtaposition is sharp. While clothing inspired by fishermen is enjoying huge popularity in the fashion scene, the profession and heritage that birthed it are vanishing. A significant danger exists that, within a decade, public knowledge about fishing might be limited to the apparel, completely separated from the craft, history, and difficulties of the work.

The Undercurrent of Wealth

In the end, the angling style may be only tangentially related to fishing. The wider nautical look and the focused anglercore trend both convey a shared, unspoken idea: prosperity. The fly-fishing look, with its plaid shirts and waxed coats, imitates the casual, refined manner of the country elite. The coastal style, in parallel, brings to mind costly oceanfront homes and unhurried living. Fashion has lately shown a fixation on prosperity, from ‘quiet luxury’ and the ‘old-money’ look to horse-riding-themed collections. This trend seems to be a continuation of that.

A Signal of Quiet Luxury

Both takes on the angling style communicate a similar message. They permit the wearer to imply prosperity without being flashy. This is a move to adopt the appearance of legacy wealth's subtlety. In a time of prominent branding and showy spending, this look provides a more discreet, symbolic method of showing one's standing. It conveys a message of affluence without explicit declaration, even for individuals who lack it. The attire functions as a costume, enabling people to adopt a persona and display an image of easy wealth.

The Simplest Reason of All

However, this in-depth examination doesn't tell the complete story. For some individuals, the attraction is much more direct. Strolling through any British town, one might be surprised by the quantity of men of a particular age sporting vests designed for fly-fishing. They are not doing so for ironic effect, nor do they harbor a secret desire to be anglers. They are not deliberately signalling subdued wealth. They are choosing the vests for a far more basic motive. In an era of form-fitting garments with minimal carrying space, they simply appreciate having numerous pockets.