TOPIC 05 The latest Chinese fashion . Li Ning to be presented at the Paris Collection.
LI-NING's A/W 2020-21 collection was presented in the form of a runway show at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. The title of the show was "Future Vintage, Sport Formal. As the word "Future Vintage, Sports Formal" implies, the collection was a fusion of different eras and styles, overturning various preconceived notions and common sense. Lo-fi graphics, inspired by early video game technology, were featured on apparel, footwear, and accessories.
LI-NING was founded in 1990 as a sports lifestyle brand by Li Ning, the "Prince of Gymnastics" who led the Chinese men's national gymnastics team to numerous medals in the 1980s. Based on his vision and real-life experience, the brand has been making products for professional athletes and national teams for 30 years, and is also focusing on its "Premium Collection," a fashion line launched in 2018. Currently, the brand presents its collection at Paris Men's Fashion Week and has also developed collaborations with Random Identities by Stefano Pilati and Neil Barrett. The brand is attracting attention for its technical capabilities and manufacturing methods recognized by top athletes, the quality of its products made in its own factories in China, and its transformative design approach that evokes a unique point of view, overturning the conventional image of China.
LEE Ning" from China, which is experiencing remarkable economic development. . The photo is from the 2020-21 fall/winter collection. The combination of Chinese characters and English in the new graphic design looks fresh. Sneakers with a modern form are also available. (Photo: from the 2020-21 fall/winter collection)Leanin Official Site)
TOPIC 06 Labrum tells the story of Sierra Leone, West Africa .
Sierra Leone, West Africa, was once settled by people of African descent who were freed from slavery. Foday Dambuya, the designer of "LABRUM," was born in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, and grew up in Cyprus and London. After graduating from Nottingham Trent University in England, he worked for DKNY and Nike before founding his own brand in 2015.
The brand name means "with an edge" in Latin . The collection is based on unique and sophisticated designs that blend traditional British military wear with the essence of his West African roots. Dambuya's vision is to promote a deeper understanding of different cultures and communities through "Labrum. In other words, Dambuya's vision is to express, through fashion, the current situation in West Africa, which until now has been largely unexplored.
In recent years, the "FACE A-J" event was held in Tokyo and Lagos, Nigeria, with the participation of Tebe Magugu, a South African designer who won the "LVMH Prize 2019," and Salbam of Japan, among others, drawing attention to creations from an African backbone that has rarely been discussed through fashion. The creation of "Africa," a backbone of fashion that has not been widely discussed, has been attracting attention.
An early look at items from the Spring/Summer 2021 men's collection by [Labrum]. . From the top, a set-up made of thick cotton fabric. The jacket (¥88,000+TAX) with ankle-length sleeves features three-dimensional patch pockets, while the two-tuck pants (¥59,000+TAX) have a straight silhouette with just the right amount of thickness. The hooded pullover (¥74,000+TAX) looks fresh with its original camouflage pattern. The open collar short sleeve shirt (¥50,000+tax) has a graphic print reminiscent of tie-dye. (S.D.I. / Tel: 03-6721-1070/)Labrum Official Site)
Labrum is also designing clothing for Sierra Leone's national team in time for the sports festival to be held next year. The unique graphic design is said to pay homage to the 16 tribes that represent the country, while using the colors of the national flag. The photos are styled by Yves Camara , a stylist from Sierra Leone who is a close friend of designer Dambuya and is currently attracting a lot of attention.
TOPIC 07 A sustainable one-of-a-kind by J.M. WESTON.
J.M. WESTON has launched "Weston Vintage," a recycling project to trade in shoes and resell them. Shoes collected in exchange for shopping coupons for each model are taken to a workshop in Limoges, central France, where 10,000 pairs of shoes are repaired by hand each year, and each pair is carefully repaired while the condition is monitored. The soles and insoles are then replaced, and the shoes begin to breathe anew as one-by-one "vintage" shoes that retain the texture and care of their previous owners. The project is sure to grow as a sustainable initiative that spans generations.
Shoes collected through this project will be reborn as if they were brand new. In Japan, the shoes are scheduled to be available from this fall, and although the price varies depending on the item, it is reasonable to say that it is about half the price of a new pair of shoes. Prior to this, a trade-in program for unwanted shoes will begin in Japan. Signature loafers will be exchanged for coupons worth 15,000 yen, and golfers for 20,000 yen. . The photo shows a repaired Golf. ¥60,000+TAX (J.M. WESTON, Aoyama(/ Phone: 03-6805-1691)
TOPIC 08 Save the Duck capsule collection by Toshifumi Yamane of F/CE.®.
Since 2015, Save the Duck has saved more than 18 million ducks, and since 2005, more than 2.3 million plastic bottles have been recycled. Save the Duck, an outerwear brand born in Milan, Italy that loves animals and the earth and promotes a sustainable way of life from the "material" aspect, reports as such. They have teamed up with Toshifumi Yamane of F/CE (F/CE.®) to launch a capsule collection. Inspired by the mystique of towering mountains and forests, the beautifully shaped jackets use RECYCLED PLUMTECH®, a proprietary polyester fiber made from recycled plastic bottles, as padding in place of down feathers. Furthermore, the outer fabric is made of GORE-TEX®, a 100% recycled polyester material. It is a highly functional outerwear suitable for the coming age.
This capsule collection includes both men's and women's products. Of the outerwear picked up here, the first three models are men's models. The last one is a women's model that can be worn by men as well. Coat ¥114,000+TAX (first), Blouson ¥114,000+TAX (second), Blouson ¥81,000+TAX (third), Coat ¥78,000+TAX (fourth) (Teijin Frontier / Tel: 03-6402-7739)
