Rick Owens Explains His Ballsy 2015 Fall/Winter Presentation

One of the most talked about points during the Paris menswear presentations for 2015 fall/winter was Rick Owens‘ decision to send three penises down the runway for the world to see (click here for the collection). i-D caught up with the designer backstage and asked him where the inspiration came from. “I thought it was the most simple, primal gesture — and you know I love a simply tiny, little gesture that packs the wallop.” If you missed it, the penises were displayed out of holes in deconstructed uniforms that created a horseshoe frame around the region, where they weren’t fully on display but were prominent enough for everyone to notice. Here’s an excerpt from the conversation below; let us know what you think in the comments and head over to i-D for the full read.

“It’s very powerful,” Owens said. “Not many people can do that. I mean, it’s a straight world now. And it also, I think, says something about being independent. Who else can really get away with that kind of stuff? It’s a corporate world.” And with those words, Owens quite literally stuck a cock in the face of the fashion conglomerates, exercising an irreverence and cheekiness that few other designers could get away with. It was a powerful gesture – even in flaccid condition – and one that could be start to an entirely different men’s fashion week. Ballsy.