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SS16 “Electric Eye” Blazer
Walter Van Beirendonck SS16 "Electric Eye" Blazer. Designers that take a strong course of political activism within their work are scarce. As an artist, a sense of social responsibility is inherited when one has the privilege of carrying the megaphone. When it comes to fashion, expressing a designer's political agenda may result in harsh public rejection or controversy, which may be counter intuitive to a label's commercial interests, but yet as a notable designer a platform is open to convey their creative manifestations of what they please to the public. Walter Van Beirendonck, the father of Belgian fashion, remarkably doesn't come short of expressing his political beliefs but uses allusions and metaphors usually in a form of new fictitious characters season to season. "Electric Eye" derives from Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" and a Judas Priest song of the same title which references Orwell's "1984". For the SS16 season Walter conjures a character with a single eye on a black thundercloud signifying the current state of creeping surveillance, the "Big Brother". Said creature was plastered on elastic materials and cotton tops, accompanied with Walter's signature grand and madly extravagant expressions of patterns, hats, colours and cuts. The collection featured patterns typically resembling wallpaper of a pediatrician's waiting lobby or a Scholastic book fair poster. These patterns, according to Walter, are a stark contrast to the dark suits that were presented on the runway -- a visual statement which represents mankind's liberation from the ominous overseeing obumbration; The 'black clouds', the "Electric Eye". 8/10 condition, some mild stains in the inside of the blazer. Size 48.$380 -
Velcro-Placed Zipped Pocket Cargo Trousers
Walter Van Beirendonck zipped pocket cargo trousers w/ displaceable velcro pockets. In the current upsurge of mens fashion, younger fashion enthusiasts may not be familiar with Van Beirendonck's legacy despite being the landscaper of Antwerp avant-garde fashion. Part of the revered “Antwerp 6”, Walter Van Bereindonck took a more graphic heavy, technically demanding and bolder approach with provocative and loud fits each themed to be striking, political and filled with vigor. It was Van Bereindonck, not Raf, that pioneered the graphic heavy, forward speaking designs dating back to the 80s. Walter Van Beirendonck is the seer of Antwerpian fashion, currently heading fashion at The Royal Academy Antwerp, with past students of the academy including Kris Van Assche, Oliver Rizzio, Willy Vanderperre, Peter de Potter and even Raf Simons himself which was under Van Beirendonck's wing as an intern. At the academy WVB was a strong proponent in advocating interdisciplinary studies/projects which resulted in the flood of artists/photographers/stylists pouring into the fashion world, ultimately leading to the flourishing amount of "collabs" we see today. Made with vintage cargo trousers. Displaceable cargo pockets that can be fixed and styled in multiple ways. Each pocket has zips for easy in-and-out storage. Slim fit. Mainline and current WVB line. New with tags 10/10 condition. Size 48, fits a 31-32$300