Fashion has always innovated by staying ahead of the times and bringing new surprises. Jonathan William Anderson is a designer who is truly moving forward with the times. He uses the word "share" to describe this innovation.
In the 20th century, fashion evolved alongside women's advancement in society. Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent introduced women to the functional and comfortable clothing worn by men, leading to a sense of spiritual liberation. They offered mannish, masculine, unisex, and even genderless clothing.
In the 21st century, fashion is bringing about changes in menswear. Men are effortlessly overcoming gender barriers and embracing a sense of sharing.
"I don't make clothes that are specifically for men or women, especially when it comes to materials. My concept is unisex from the 1970s. The 1970s was a time when the power of youth influenced not only fashion but culture as well," says Anderson. Men's fashion certainly evolved in the 1970s, and the idea of men dressing like women was called the Peacock Revolution. Ruffles and pink clothing, along with long hair, became the norm. "Not only did the materials change, but the patterns also varied, from unisex to tailored to different body types. Even so, I sometimes create designs that make a man and woman look like twins. I love that kind of thing." The sense of sharing he speaks of is likely a meticulously calculated "intellectual fashion." Dover Street Market (DSM) Ginza reopened on July 19th. The newly opened J.W. Anderson corner on the fifth floor and the Elephant Space on the first floor simultaneously launched an installation featuring Anderson's latest products, unveiled for the first time since he became creative director of Loewe. The SS15 men's ready-to-wear collection, bags, shoes, and leather goods on display in the space will be available for purchase starting the 23rd. In the corner dedicated to the signature brand "J.W. Anderson" on the fifth floor, you can see an installation using blue blocks, which was also exhibited when the DSM New York store opened. "I saw some kids playing with blue blocks while traveling in Venice and wanted to recreate it, so I searched online for a manufacturer of the blocks and made it a reality. What inspired me was a photo in a magazine called "Six," published by Comme des Garçons in the late '80s, showing crows gathering all the blue objects that humans use in a nest. The colors I saw in Six and the colors of the blocks synchronized with the image of DSM. Six is still a modern magazine, and I have all eight issues." Born in 1984, Anderson would have been a child in Northern Ireland when Six was first published. Who would have thought he would ever talk about Six?
When he inspected the Elephant Space on the first floor, he said, "As soon as I saw the elephant, the keyword 'tribal' immediately came to mind." So he painted the elephant white and dressed a mannequin wearing a white wig from the Spring/Summer 2015 men's collection, creating a futuristic tribal image. Around the elephant, leather cushions in natural colors reminiscent of earth and vegetation are arranged. On top of these are placed his new "Amazona" and "Flamenco" bags, knotted key rings, meccano pins, and coin purses, evoking the atmosphere of a faraway, exotic marketplace. A unique world unfolds, fusing Anderson's past and future.
We look forward to continuing to watch the future of Anderson's creations, which freely manipulate the memory of color and shape.
