HERE AND NOW

[xeoniq]

I have a more broad appreciation of techwear than most people probably do, trying to apply the concept of utility maximisation to my every day outfits and not really limiting myself to a certain aesthetic style, much less the hypebeast flavour of streetwear that most people would associate with the term.

For example, I'd consider this full Uniqlo outfit I am wearing today to have a techwear influence. The Uniqlo U SS17 coat is light polyester, packable, anti-wrinkle and has numerous hidden pockets; the shirt is seersucker blended with spandex (from the Dry-EX line) keeping it cool to wear in the summer, stretch to allow a slimmer comfortable fit and quick dry; and the pants (also Dry-EX) are polyester spandex and are light, comfortable, stretch for a slimmer fit than I could usually allow in a non-stretch material, and again quick-dry and anti-wrinkle. It's the middle of summer here and I can wear this comfortably while allowing for a more fashionable menswear aesthetic. I don't think this level of comfort or practicality is possible in warmer weather without the technical innovations made in garment construction and materials that I'd consider part of techwear.



A bit busy today but I might expand on my understanding of techwear later in this thread, because I find the topic interesting and I think there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding it. I wrote this op ed a while back which has a general summary of my broader perspective: https://shellzine.net/the-mainstreaming-of-techwear/

 

[Byrone]

I have a more broad appreciation of techwear than most people probably do, trying to apply the concept of utility maximisation to my every day outfits and not really limiting myself to a certain aesthetic style, much less the hypebeast flavour of streetwear that most people would associate with the term.

For example, I'd consider this full Uniqlo outfit I am wearing today to have a techwear influence. The Uniqlo U SS17 coat is light polyester, packable, anti-wrinkle and has numerous hidden pockets; the shirt is seersucker blended with spandex (from the Dry-EX line) keeping it cool to wear in the summer, stretch to allow a slimmer comfortable fit and quick dry; and the pants (also Dry-EX) are polyester spandex and are light, comfortable, stretch for a slimmer fit than I could usually allow in a non-stretch material, and again quick-dry and anti-wrinkle. It's the middle of summer here and I can wear this comfortably while allowing for a more fashionable menswear aesthetic. I don't think this level of comfort or practicality is possible in warmer weather without the technical innovations made in garment construction and materials that I'd consider part of techwear.

View attachment 1533259

A bit busy today but I might expand on my understanding of techwear later in this thread, because I find the topic interesting and I think there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding it. I wrote this op ed a while back which has a general summary of my broader perspective: https://shellzine.net/the-mainstreaming-of-techwear/

Great post.
I think UU SS 17 collection was the last interesting one.

 

[Clouseau]

Yes i tend to agree. Their two latest collections are really boring BTW.

The last UU item i really liked was their take on the Jungle Jacket (SS19 i think).
Ok, not a high end Fujito, or a Buzz Rickson classic repro (on my wish list), but they came really cheap, especially during the sales, and they (i've got the 3 different colors) really found a place in my wardrobe.

 

[xeoniq]

Great post.
I think UU SS 17 collection was the last interesting one.

Yea, I really liked that collection. But that wasn't surprising given that the ex-director of Issey Miyake was heavily involved with it. I enjoyed FW16 quite a bit as well.

I like that black jacket - green pants combo, Clouseau. I usually wear the reverse, but I've got a lot of unloved black jackets at the moment because most of my pants are black and I try to avoid full black looks as much as possible. Maybe it's time I got a pair of forest green cargos or similar.

 

[Clouseau]

Yea, I really liked that collection. But that wasn't surprising given that the ex-director of Issey Miyake was heavily involved with it. I enjoyed FW16 quite a bit as well.

I like that black jacket - green pants combo, Clouseau. I usually wear the reverse, but I've got a lot of unloved black jackets at the moment because most of my pants are black and I try to avoid full black looks as much as possible. Maybe it's time I got a pair of forest green cargos or similar.

Thanks Xeoniq! This one is the Navy but i posted a picture with the black one recently. The third colour is fawn.

 

[Byrone]

Yea, I really liked that collection. But that wasn't surprising given that the ex-director of Issey Miyake was heavily involved with it. I enjoyed FW16 quite a bit as well.

I like that black jacket - green pants combo, Clouseau. I usually wear the reverse, but I've got a lot of unloved black jackets at the moment because most of my pants are black and I try to avoid full black looks as much as possible. Maybe it's time I got a pair of forest green cargos or similar.

I thought Lemaire and his wife were the UU stylists ?

 

[xeoniq]

Naoki Takizawa was working with Uniqlo on their special projects such as U and the collaborations since 2014, I believe. He started his career with Issey, and I think has worked with Helmut Lang and a few others as well.

 

[Byrone]

Naoki Takizawa was working with Uniqlo on their special projects such as U and the collaborations since 2014, I believe. He started his career with Issey, and I think has worked with Helmut Lang and a few others as well.

I didn't know that. Thanks !

 

[Clouseau]

The sales start in two days here, and as we are not under a lockdown at the mo, i intend to go to the shops.
I've got a few items in mind, quite H&N style (classics, Americana, Japanese stuff, Techwear...), but might end up with nothing...

 

[Clouseau]

Oooops. Double post

 

[Byrone]

The sales start in two days here, and as we are not under a lockdown at the mo, i intend to go to the shops.
I've got a few items in mind, quite H&N style (classics, Americana, Japanese stuff, Techwear...), but might end up with nothing...

What do you have in mind ?

 

[Clouseau]

What do you have in mind ?

Well I was looking for black brogues and/or outerwear, and i am back with a down jacket...
Pics to come...

 

[Clouseau]

Quite happy, i was looking at this model with a tonal logo, from their last collection, for a while. 30% off, seems a decent price.

 

[Luigi_M]

@Clouseau , about black brogues, I'm looking at these Grenson Albert

ALBERT:110283

Albert; mens brogue in black calf leather with a leather sole. This specification is a classic from one of the handful of quality British shoemakers still left. Handmade entirely at the Grenson factory in Northamptonshire, UK. Free worldwide returns.

www.grenson.com

£225 seems already a good price for MiE shoes, but I'll wait some more before pulling the trigger, in hope for a further discount. Then, if my size gets sold, so be it ...
Also, I still haven't made any purchase after Brexit so I dunno how the process would actually go.
Cheaney doesn't ship to Italy for example.

 

[Botolph]

View attachment 1539108
Quite happy, i was looking at this model with a tonal logo, from their last collection, for a while. 30% off, seems a decent price.

Would this be worn as an underside layer, or in a Bibendum lookalike contest? ?