Collaboration with photographer Brentton Wilson for an editorial photo shoot of a/w 15 collection: Brute. Models: Taylor Samone and Megan Riesner Hair: Bria Isabella Makeup: Julia Hunt Sometimes when you read news stories about Chicago or Detroit it feels like you’re reading about a post-apocalyptic war zone, where everyone’s just trying to protect their own. Afraid of being victims, criminalized by the “other”. It can feel frustrating, anger inducing, and hopeless. As a generation I think we’re often wandering, frustrated, between indifference or revolt. This collection was about empowering the city dweller of this generation. Allowing them feel safe in their own skin and protected from the biases that society has constructed around their identity. I imagined this protection in the form of disguise and armor. One form of armor is produced with heavy quilting inspired by urban architecture that gives the wearer the feeling of wearing a bullet proof vest. The other is a woven fabric manipulation with spikes intended to protect the wearer's neck and torso from a stranger's touch. Disguise comes in the form of a pant with an attached cape. Easily pulled up or down the cape transforms the silhouette of the upper body, potentially protecting the wearer's identity. Although these protective elements are more of an illusion than a reality I hope that they make the wearer of these garments feel safer walking in their city.

Published: January 14, 2016