8 Drops You Don't Want to Miss This Week
Featuring BAPE, Stüssy, Raf Simons, Gucci and more.
With another week we have yet another installment of our product drops series, this time marked by a host of standout releases. Leading the list is the COMME des GARÇONS x Stüssy 40th-Anniversary Varsity Jacket and the latest from the mastermind JAPAN vs A BATHING APE® project.
Other standout collaborations include Gucci‘s Spring/Summer 2020 capsule with Dover Street Market and L’Art de l’Automobile‘s Paris Fashion Week release with Tamiya. Along with the continuation of Evian and Virgil Abloh‘s partnership and Japanese textile research company SPIBER‘s team-up with sacai. Rounding up this week’s product drops is the release of both Raf Simons and doublet‘s dramatic concept-themed SS20 collections.
Raf Simons Spring/Summer 2020 Collection
Marking the release of his SS20 collection, Raf Simons has enlisted frequent collaborator Willy Vanderperre for a sci-fi-inspired campaign.
The striking minimalist photoset features a cast of intrigued models Simons’ latest looks, ranging from his highly-limited printed T-shirts to various pieces such as sports shorts sporting this season’s key slogan, “RS-LAB.” Layering the sci-fi concept, Vanderperre places a specific focus on items like the colorful Lab Coats and complementing rubber gloves. Elsewhere is a focus on tailoring found in the range like the oversized checkered blazer, the contrast-label suit jacket, and the lightweight blazer complete with a pin-on fabric patch stating “MY OWN PRIVATE ANTWERP.”
When: Now
Where: SSENSE
Doublet Spring/Summer 2020 Collection
Continuing to focus on dramatic concepts, doublet designer Masayuki Ino has prepared an SS20 collection centered around a variety of garments marked by a new series of film-indebted graphics and unique details.
Leading items include the cut-out handbags (so wearers can poke their face through) to “The Key Person” shirts that come with attached keyrings perfectly express the extreme detail and playful whimsy of the range. The collection also features familiar baggy, raw-hemmed cardigans, reversible intarsia-woven knit sweaters and the classic “Chaos Embroidery” tracksuits reimagined for the season. Rounding up the collection are suiting options like oversized coats that require two wearers and create a sharp, tailored fit.
When: Now
Where: Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market x Gucci Spring/Summer 2020 Capsule
Coming together once again, Gucci has once again linked up with Dover Street Market for an SS20 capsule.
Centered around a strong ’70s influence, key pieces include tasseled leather jackets and waistcoats, as well as pre-distressed jackets and embroidered blazers. Other highlights from the special range is a metallic gold jacket and matching shorts complete with Gucci branding down the sides, a long mohair overcoat with an all-over interlocking GG pattern and an “Everything I Know About Love” T-shirt.
When: Now
Where: Dover Street Market
mastermind vs A BATHING APE Spring/Summer 2020 Capsule
Building on their mastermind JAPAN vs A BATHING APE® project, the two stories labels continued their collaborative efforts with an SS20 capsule.
Comprised of streetwear essentials, the crewnecks, T-shirts, sweatpants and caps found in the capsule come marked with the duo’s iconic branding motifs. The main focus of the collaboration is a grey and black take on BAPE’s iconic camo print and hybrid takes on mastermind‘s Skull-and-Bones motif with BAPE‘s Ape Head insignia.
When: Now
Where: mastermind JAPAN vs A BATHING APE® Concept Store
TAMIYA x L’Art de l’Automobile KARFOOT Monster Truck Collaboration
To mark Paris Fashion Week, L’Art de l’Automobile has tapped Japanese remote control (RC) toy experts Tamiya for a monster truck-inspired T-shirt capsule, complete with a matching toy car.
The three special shirts are emblazoned with co-branding and imagery of the collaborative “KARFOOT” monster truck. The long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirts are offered in black and white and channeling the same retro design sensibilities found on the RC monster truck.
When: January 15-18
Where: TAMIYA x L’Art de l’Automobile KARFOOT Paris Fashion Week Pop-Up
COMME des GARÇONS x Stüssy 40th-Anniversary Varsity Jacket
For its first 40th-anniversary release, Stüssy has enlisted COMME des GARÇONS to revisit the California-based label’s signature Varsity Jacket silhouette.
Commemorating four decades, 1980-2020 date markings serve as a central design element of the limited co-branded outerwear item. The jacket features a black Melton wool base accented by small chenille patches representing CDG items on the sleeves and a larger patch at the rear depicting the geometric Surf Guy holding a “CDG” surfboard. Other accenting elements include Stüssy Tribe embroidery on the right chest and stacked co-branding embroidered on the left chest region. Rounding up the design of the limited collaboration is a satin lining, a tonal snap bottom closure, dual slit pockets, ribbed black collar and black/white contrast ribbed cuffs and hem.
When: January 15 at 10 a.m. PST
Where: Stüssy Chapter Stores, Dover Street Market, CDG Locations, CDGCDGCDG, Stüssy
sacai x SPIBER Neil Armstrong T-Shirt Capsule
Continuing its collaborative efforts, Japanese textile research company SPIBER has teamed up with sacai on four new T-shirts utilizing its “brewed protein” textile, blended with soft cotton.
Part of sacai’s SS20 collection, the collab features two T-shirt designs in black or heather gray marked with the iconic “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” quote from astronaut Neil Armstrong. Designed by art director Fabien Baron, one T-shirt design features the quote in bold block-lettering on both the front and back, while the other sees the quote emblazoned on the left chest and repeated on the back in a typewriter-style font at the rear. Each shirt is finished off by a co-branding logo applied on the bottom right rear region.
When: January 18
Where: sacai
Virgil Abloh for Evian Water Shoulder Bag & Bottle
Carrying over the collaborative relationship they launched last year, Evian and Virgil Abloh have prepared a limited edition offering just for Asia.
Releasing exclusively at Barneys New York Japan, the upcoming drop features a shoulder bag dressed in the gradient tones synonymous with the duo’s collaborative efforts. Crafted of premium white leather, bloh’s “ONE DROP CAN MAKE A RAINBOW” motif emblazoned on the webbed shoulder strap and zipper pull. Accompanying the bag is a minimalist glass bottle, marked simply with the “RAINBOW” verbiage seen on prior regional drops. Both items will be packaged inside a special co-branded carrying case.
When: January 18
Where: Barneys New York Japan