BEAMS PLUS & ACADEMY by Blackstock & Weber Craft an Ivy-Inspired Capsule
B&W founder Chris Echevarria says “We are exiting an era of the “merch-ification” of fashion,” in an exclusive interview with Hypebeast.
BEAMS PLUS and Blackstock & Weber‘s ACADEMY line have partnered on a first-time capsule, uniting the Japanese brand and the Brooklyn-based label under their affinity for prep-inspired style.
The collection titled “Orientation” is the result of a blossoming friendship between B&W founder Chris Echevarria and BEAMS PLUS creative director Hideki (Harry) Mizobata. “It started very naturally,” Echevarria told Hypebeast. “My admiration for Beams goes back to 2007. I’ve always had an extreme appreciation for Japanese craft and the overall aesthetic of what Beams Plus creates, particularly their rich history of reinterpreting vintage goods.”
“The ACADEMY aesthetic touches directly back to my years in prep school, which is where I developed my understanding of what a wardrobe could and should be.”
Comprising five pieces, including outerwear, sweats, and a graphic tee, the collection draws from Echevarria’s prep school days — a time when he experimented with unconventional styling, breaking with traditional prep codes. Leading the range is the 3B Jacket, featuring an intricate crest handcrafted in India, and a new iteration of BEAMS PLUS’s signature Balmacaan coat. Both of the pieces utilize four different Harris Tweed fabrics, featuring subtle navy and green tartans.
On the other end of the spectrum, heather gray and navy-hued sweat sets provide a casual foundation to the collection and feature a quiet zig-zag stitch detail. The sweat hoodie and pants are modeled after vintage reverse-weave garments from the ’50s and ’60s, boasting a fit preferred by Echevarria. Finally, the “ACADEMY BAND” tee tops off the collection with a wholesome reference to Echevarria’s own dog as the mascot.
Following a trip to Japan, where the designer was introduced to the BEAMS team, Echevarria invited the Tokyo-based team to his hometown in New Jersey during the development of the collection. “We visited the two streets I grew up on, which is what Blackstock & Weber is named after. We went to my favorite pizza spot, all that,” he recalled.
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The campaign was shot on campus at Princeton, New Jersey’s foremost Ivy League institution, further emphasizing the academic inspiration. “The ACADEMY aesthetic touches directly back to my years in prep school, which is where I developed my understanding of what a wardrobe could and should be,” Echevarria explained. Indeed, ACADEMY was conceived as a “concept of educating through clothing—through construction and novel approaches” – an ethos he also ties to BEAMS PLUS.
In addition to launching the collection at Blackstock & Weber’s NYC flagship, the store will also host a season-long BEAMS PLUS pop-up, featuring handpicked styles by Echevarria. Running until January, the pop-up focuses on basics and garments that complement what the brand has designed with its ACADEMY line. “We brought in a few pieces of outerwear, including a patchwork jacket that inspired our collection,” he said. “Since we’ve operated primarily with shoes, this collaboration allows us to show what the full view of the brand looks like.”
“People are transitioning from trying to be as loud as possible to being as quiet as they can be in communicating who they are.”
Though the two brands come from completely different regions with their own unique stories, they align on their commitment to quality pieces that transcend fleeting trends. “I think people are tired of wearing T-shirts and hoodies that only last a season. We are exiting an era of the “merch-ification” of fashion—big logos, etc. People are transitioning from trying to be as loud as possible to being as quiet as they can be in communicating who they are,” Echevarria explained.
In the future, BEAMS and Blackstock & Weber are working on introducing a footwear silhouette to the collaboration, but the partners are still keeping details under wraps for now.
“I think the Academy and Beams Plus universe is just going to continue to grow. Harry (from Beams) is my kindred spirit in design, so getting to work with someone you admire and think alike is a blessing, especially with such an institution in Japanese fashion.”
The BEAMS PLUS x ACADEMY by Blackstock & Weber “Orientation” collection will be available at both brands’ webstores and physical locations on November 21. The BEAMS PLUS pop-up at 242 Mulberry Street is open now and will run through January.
