SHEBA SS21 Imagines Uniforms for Fictional Post-Pandemic Dystopia
Crafting garments for workers beholden to global powers.
Emerging Japanese label SHEBA has swiftly risen through the ranks of young Japanese labels, gathering steam on the strength of its distinctive post-workwear aesthetic. Spring/Summer 2021 is no less captivating that previous efforts, but its theme is much darker, imagining a post-coronavirus disaster.
Dubbed “PROLETARIAT,” after the working class, SHEBA describes its seasonal theme as thus: “Due to a devastating blow by [an] unknown virus … the world became a dystopia. Small- and middle-sized enterprise was lost and … global companies seized power. [As] such, uniforms for field workers [are necessary].” Designer Hirokazu Shibasaki — a veteran of stalwart label Digawel – acknowledges the story is fiction, rather than prediction, of course.
Still, looking at the collection’s imagery, one would be hard pressed to see the dystopian theme; SHEBA showcases its models mostly in repose, fishing, sitting around town and watching boats pass. The uniform motif is clear, however, thanks to oversized field jackets, textural anoraks and a neutral, earthy color story. Loosely woven tank tops and cut-off hoodies toy with otherwise conventional silhouettes, while baggy shorts and dropped-shoulder pullovers make for comfy summer staples.
Visit SHEBA’s website for more information and expect the new range to hit various Japanese stockists — including ATTIC Sendai, Craque Kumamoto and SO Nakameguro.
Elsewhere in Japan, WHIZ LIMITED‘s FW20 range explores distinctive patched pieces.
