FW04 “Waves” Orange Ortega Pullover

"There are three reasons to come to Paris: Hedi Slimane of Dior, Tom Ford of Yves Saint Laurent and Helmut Lang. Actually, there is a fourth -- Raf Simons, who in a parking garage on Sunday night -- on a platform made of crushed soda cans -- superbly articulated how contemporary culture has become a thoughtless Pac-Man, gobbling up products as well as references. It's rare for a designer to make a political statement in fashion and still offer wearable clothes" -- Cathy Horyn 2002 Raf Simons SS03 "Consumed" Penelope Tree Shark Hoodie in blue over black. SS03 "Consumed" is Raf's quiet observation of consumerism, or to be "consumed" by consumerism -- Its effects on youth; Their impartial interaction with such commercial entities and the molding of adolescent identities rooting from the collective indifference towards the squandering influence of commercial identities. This is the iconic and highly sought after hooded sweatshirt featuring Penelope Tree, from Truman Capote's Black & White ball, and Steven Spielberg's mechanical shark from Jaws in the backdrop, with "Diamond Co-Opted" written underneath the kangaroo pocket. The Penelope Tree print featured here on the hoodie derives from a picture which served as a pivotal point in fashion, youth culture and high society America. The original black and white picture has beanpole figured Tree staring dauntingly out in the distance from amongst a group of middle age socialites. This grabbed the attention of prominent figures of fashion and despite strong opposition from Penelope's father, as she was 16, Penelope Tree became the quintessential swinging sixties icon which galvanized female youth culture and movements at the time. Furthermore, inspired a generation of artists and designers to look at youth culture for inspiration and solidified the Youthquake movement. As for Raf Simons, and this is purely out of speculation, Penelope Tree holds a special place of interest as his source of inspiration will be and has been the youth.  

Raf Simons AW05 "History of My World" Hoodie with Peter De Potter graphic. Raf's relationship with Peter de Potter is the foundation for the label's well acclaimed cryptic graphical works. Both graduating from The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and originally a supposed one time collaboration for 2000-2001, the two worked together under the guidance of head of fashion Walter Van Brenondoink (a strong advocate of interdisciplinary work) with photographer Willy Vanderpere and stylist Oliver Rizzio to create the book "Isolated Heroes", the catalyst to Raf's prime years. Raf Simons later borrowed photographs from said book in a recent collection titled "Isolated Heroes". Crafted poems, graphics, collages which abruptly collided with Raf's relationship with music or youth and were displayed in a vague, enigmatic medium was spearheaded by Peter de Potter and continued 9 years after Isolated Heroes. Due to the nature of the graphics, the words or prints on Raf's clothing is a melting pot of musical and personal references which require acute dissection. Seems though, there's something -real- which emanates past all those layers that make some gravitate towards Raf/Peter's work. 9/10 condition. Size 54, very rare size, fits big, XL-XXL.