James Johnson and Ed Bertouch of Beat Poet are back to design a collection of café work wear apparel exclusively for Espresso di Manfredi.

James Johnson and Edward Bertouch launched menswear label Beat Poet in 2005, creating bi-annual collections of cold, reductionist menswear.

The Beat Poet silhouette was based on simple geometry and clothes that fit the form.  Beat Poet gathered quiet, steady acclaim over five years and ten collections, culminating in a GQ Designer of the Year award in 2009 and a stockist list including major department stores, specialty retailers and e-stores in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

Satisfied with the organic evolution of their brand, the designers placed Beat Poet on indefinite hiatus and moved overseas to pursue their careers further.  After a stint at Alexander McQueen in London, James is currently under the tutelage of the prestigious Savile Row Academy Tailoring Course.  Edward recently completed his Masters degree in Global Fashion Management from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where he currently lives and works for luxury retail consulting firm Robert Burke Associates.