Yesterday during the first day of New York City Fashion Week, Kanye West and adidas finally unveiled their long coveted first collection. Simply titled Yeezy Season 1, the vast men’s and women’s assortment – in line with the Autumn/Winter 2015 season – brought forth a bold new proposition of functionality and timelessness through apparel and footwear crafted to aid daily lifestyle.
The runway show, conceptualized by West alongside contemporary artist Vanessa Beecroft, shows the “solution-based” range through a series of accurate outerwear impressions paired with sartorially inclined athletic garments. Slightly grunge with unique propositions for layering and stacking, a strong military influence is noted throughout the line married to subtle coloring, which aligns with Wests’ personal style aesthetic.
West was quoted during the short, star-studded ceremony, speaking in a tone often reflected by his efforts to shift culture. “I don’t want the clothes to be the life, I want the clothes to help the life.” The utilitarian collection is crafted in minimalism and oddly enough, updated in that very same method. Vintage crewnecks are heightened by rips and tears. Camo jackets take on a new life with varying cuts and shapes. Sweats fit slim and tops drape heavy, falling long and often times off fitting.
This first offering from adidas is very much singular to the space it inhabits, much like West’s new song, “Wolves,” featuring Vic Mensa and Sia, that rang throughout the venture during the presentation. It’s a masterful play by West. Really and truly, there is a social element to this offering, one that speaks of uniformity and class. We don’t all have to appear a certain way to represent a certain thing. We can have holes in our sweaters and be intellectuals, be celebrated, and be expressive. A women’s body can be vocalized through a sense of pride and self-worth, and not viewed with a misogynistic mindset because her garments appear revealing.
But will Wests’ message be received with thunderous applause for inventiveness and disregard for criticism? Or will it be met with daunting claims of under designing and forcing his ineffective trends on others? Well, that all remains to be seen. And judging this collection, as a whole, less than 24 hours after its unveiling is ultimately silly, and irresponsible. But if anything is clear at this point, it’s that West is being seen for the first time in the fashion world as he’d like to be. And that’s a win in of itself.
Yeezy Season 1
Source: Getty Images
