Recent WTAPS lookbooks have focused more around the lifestyle of the brand (and it’s proponents) rather than on the clothing itself. The lookbook for WTAPS Spring/Summer 2014 collection continues that trend, focusing around on atmospheric lifestyle (or should I say lifist) shots of Tetsu Nishiyama and his close friends and family. Also bundled in this feature are imagery of selected products from the collection including T-shirts, bookbags and new canvas sneakers.
See more after the jump.
Supreme Team Taped Seam Jacket
February brings us a preview of the Spring/Summer 2014 Supreme collection. It’s almost become ritual for fans of the brand to obsess over the item previews as they are released each season. While I did not really enjoy most of the graphic-heavy items from the collection, I did pick out some gems that I think are worth purchasing from the collection. Having followed the brand for so many years, I generally gravitate towards the pieces that are a bit more understated in terms of branding. I tried to select a mix of items that were my favorite from the collection.
You can view the whole collection preview and lookbook at Supreme. The collection will be available this Thursday , Feb 20th at Supreme in New York and LA. See my selections after the jump
The ongoing collaboration between Undercover designer Jun Takahashi and Nike continues under the Gykausou running sub-line. Previous seasons have shown a transition towards incorporation more technically advanced textiles and this continues in the Spring/Summer collection with the inclusion of Nike Sweat Map ventilation. The sweat map tech uses an engineered jacquard weave with pinpoint laser perforations in order to keep the hottest areas of the body cool under pressure and rigorous exercise.
A key design theme this season is the idea of duality (ying-yang). This is expressed throughout the line through contrasting colors and materials split vertically across garments and footwear. To Jun (and many athletes) Takahashi running is a battle between two opposite emotions. It’s a struggle between joy and agony, elation and exhaustion, persistence and surrender. It is a crusade waged by both the body and the mind and that constant struggle definitely shows graphically in this collection.
The usual mix of jackets dri-fit tops, and running shorts/pant is back but this time they are accompanied by a new sneaker model Nike Lunar Speed AXL. While I do like aspects of the collection, I was a little disappointed when I first saw the collection. It seems like the more elaborate lookbooks of past seasons have been replaced by the more stock photography found here, and the designs themselves don’t stand out as much from the rest of the pack as they used to. Perhaps as the line grows, Jun’s direct involvement is being reduced and the line has adapted to serve more of a core running audience than the more fashion-oriented crossover audience that it had in the past.
The Nike x Undercover Gyakusou Spring 2014 Collection launches globally on March, 1.
See the full collection after the jump
Han Kjobenhavn AW14 show from Han Kjobenhavn on Vimeo. Danish designer Han Kjobenhavn likes to avoid convention: he’s consistently used a creepy senior as a model for his collections. Last year he opened an intimate low-key shop in Soho. For his Fall/Winter 2014 collection Han Kjobenhavn sent out the models supporting weirdo gas masks, being … Read more
The North Face Purple Label is one of those things that is very hard to come by outside Japan. Like the clothing equivalent of a green tea flavored Kit Kat, you have to scour to find pieces from this sub-label. As they have done for many seasons now, Purple label continues it’s tradition of paring down North Face technical pieces into something more refined and better fitting. I’ve always enjoyed how minimal the branding has been compared to regular North Face and you can expect pretty toned down shirting in an array of plaids, earth tones, navys and olives. Add to the fact that the female model in this lookbook is straight wifey status and you have yourself a lookbook worth looking through.
I’ve posted Whiz Limited Collections on here before and it continues to be one of my favorite Japanese labels. I’ve yet to own any pieces by them but from what I can tell spring/summer 2014 is another strong outing. The styling here elevates the straight-forward product into something more interesting (that Varsity above should be an early contender for varsity jacket of the year). I appreciate the color palette in this collection and how the different pieces are mixed and matched. Nothing is too bright or attention-seeking on it’s own but worn together there’s definitely a unique cohesive vision presented. I’m not sure if it’s intentional or not but I definetly see a lot of visvim in this line.
Click through to see all the looks
2013 was a year of transition for Nigo. He formally left his role at BAPE after 20 years and began his job as creative director for UT (Uniqlo). Along the way he continued working on his own line HUMAN MADE which is a logical extension from A Bathing Ape. While the lookbook doesn’t show us much we haven’t seen before, HUMAN MADE is really all in the details. There’s an usual assortment of men’s casual staples including crew necks, beanies, and a varsity all modeled by Nigo himself. Human Made is expensive but being able to feel the garments in person at Haven, I do feel the brand has a certain intangible quality that isn’t found anywhere else. The menswear world has an obession with vintage and heritage but Nigo has always been that rare visionary who could bridge the gap between current pop culture and old manufacturing.
More looks after the jump
Japanese label Nonnative has been flying just under the radar for many years. The brands signature ARE well-made, easy to wear staples that subtly riff on the trends of the moment. Similar to brands like A.P.C or Acne, you can readily incorporate Nonnative stuff to a variety of wardrobes without too much fuss. I thought the styling this collection was quite well done; really displaying how you can put together many different types of looks from the spring/summer pieces.
nonnative 14ss SUBCITY DWELLER from euphoria factory on Vimeo.
In addition to the lookbook Nonnative put together this shaky VCR video which plays off of a group of young men who run across a bunch of roadside mannequins dressed in the season’s gear.
See all the looks after the jump
The good folks at Haven have put out their lookbook for the Fall/Winter 2013/14 season. In it you’ll find looks styled from pieces by Visvim, WTAPS, Needles, Engineered Garments and other brands stocked at the Canadian retailer. The looks exemplify casual layered looks that blend these varied brands into a cohesive practical outfits. See more after the jump or visit HAVEN.
Photography by Jan Micheal Stasiuk
Journal Standard’s M.O is to put out well made casual wear classics. Their Fall/Winter lookbook has that in spades. If you are looking to get your grown man on at your day office job, you could definitely do worse than Journal Standard.
The pieces I like the most are the varsity jacket above, the black quilted jacket and the coat in the last look. Visit the brand’s official website for more info.
See more after the jump.
