Nicholas Lyndhurst and his wife, Lucy, will relaunch their late son Archie's streetwear label as a tribute ahead of the fifth anniversary of his death, the couple announced on social media.
Fated To Pretend, the brand Archie Lyndhurst began as a teenager, is scheduled to relaunch on Oct. 4. Lucy Lyndhurst shared a short promotional clip on Instagram and wrote, "For you Archie from the proudest parents alive. There are still people yet to meet you. We love you. Mama & Old Man."
Archie Lyndhurst, who trained as an actor and appeared in series including So Awkward and the Jack Whitehall comedy Bad Education, launched Fated To Pretend in 2017 as a creative outlet tied to his interest in skateboarding and streetwear. In a March 2020 interview he described the project as a personal passion, saying it began when he was 17 and that he had channelled personal difficulties into the brand.
Archie died in his sleep at age 19 after suffering an intracerebral haemorrhage caused by acute lymphoblastic lymphoma. His parents, best known publicly for Nicholas Lyndhurst's long-running role as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, have marked anniversaries of his death with public tributes and messages of gratitude for the support they received.
Lucy Lyndhurst previously posted on the first anniversary of Archie’s death that living without him had been "the biggest test of endurance we will ever face," and thanked friends and fans who showed support. The couple have not released further commercial details about how the relaunched label will operate, what products will be offered or whether proceeds will be donated to any charities; the Instagram announcement focused on commemorating Archie and introducing his work to new audiences.
Fated To Pretend began as a small, self-styled streetwear and skate project and had been described by Archie as the "biggest passion project" of his life. Those remarks, made months before his death in 2020, frame the relaunch as an effort to preserve his creative legacy. The announcement comes as the family approaches Sept. 30, the date they mark as the anniversary of his passing.
Nicholas and Lucy Lyndhurst have kept a public record of their mourning and remembrance since their son’s death, sharing memories and messages on social media. The relaunch will bring the brand back eight years after its creation and five years after Archie’s death. Further information about the label's return, including pricing, distribution and any links to charitable activity, has not been disclosed by the family as of the announcement.