No Maintenance's In-House Pieces Present an Understated Approach to Style
The LA-based brand’s new drop is inspired by ’90s Japanese graphics and Italian films.
After a lengthy development process, No Maintenance is releasing two new pieces for FW21 that recontextualize their vintage references through a contemporary lens. Shot in collaboration with photographer Allison Nguyen, the “Elle” Intarsia Knit Sweater and “Forra” Sunglasses are styled in effortless unisex looks. Releasing on November 24 at 11 AM PST on their website, pairing the Black “Forra” sunglasses with the “Elle” Sweater is a divergence from overstated editorials that allows the thoughtful construction of these pieces to speak for themselves.
Leaning on a leather Chromcraft leather chair from 1975, Susanna wears a pair of the “Forra” Sunglasses in Cream, which are priced at $148. The “Forra” Sunglasses are offered in Black and Cream Italian acetate frames, with silver hinge accents, foil embossing and polarized UV lenses for maximum protection. Inspired by Italian films, the photos were shot on a background that’s clean, but not perfectly polished. “You look at movies like La Notte or postmodernist movies that have incredibly weird angular sunglasses, but the ones that felt the most wearable were from 1959 to 1969,” says Sebastian Moraga, who runs No Maintenace with Roe Hodgson. “We sampled various colors, but wanted something lighter with the green tint on the Cream pair, which is like a nod to our earth tones.”
Priced at $188, Kyle wears the “Elle” Intarsia Knit Sweater, a woven knit crewneck with a cropped fit that’s become key to No Maintenance‘s aesthetic. While other sweaters are too slim at the torso, the “Elle” sweater has a boxy silhouette that brings the comfort of your favorite sweatshirt to a sophisticated cotton sweater. The arm length and drop shoulders of this sweater are also exaggerated, which was informed by No Maintenance‘s extensive knowledge of Yohji Yamamoto and COMME des GARÇONS. The new floral motif is a stark contrast to the brand’s minimalist styles but has quickly become a fan favorite for its proximity to early graphic Intarsia sweaters by Yohji Yamamoto.
The founders of No Maintenance have scattered hidden elements to fuel the brand’s ’90s approach to storytelling and to capture their audience’s attention. Hodgson explains that additional imagery for the brand’s FW21 drop was shot in Brooklyn; the model, Aaron, was scouted at a party in Tribeca for a spontaneous shoot at MotorGrrl, a repair mechanic shop that’s like family, where he stores his motorcycle. The new editorial photos also contain a preview of an unreleased “Cupra” floral shirt, which fans can look out for next month.
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