G Star Raw And The 3rd Dimension of Denim
During the next year, the most stalwart piece of clothing will turn 140 years – the jeans. The denim pants have come a long way since Levi Strauss and Calvin Rogers launched them in the commercial spotlight, and made them a crucial part of the everyday working life of the humble Northern American peasants.
Today, the label G Star Raw is the brand du jour who has seen into the future and brought innovation to their previous and current collections. At the right moment, when we were overfed with 3D-film productions, G Star decided to bring that peripheral dimension into their clothing line instead.
While 3D-pants might sound like something out of a cheap science fiction-production, on the contrary, the intricately constructed Elwood and Arc pants incorporated new techniques to the classic denim tailoring. To achieve an asymmetric tapered fit that adjusts to the leg, twisted seams and inseams were used. The jeans have a bow-legged shape when laid flat, but has an ergonomic 3D-effect around the leg when put on.
Ergonomic functionality has also been a priority in the current collection, with one style influenced by motorcycle rider from the swinging old days. In the 1920’s and 30’s, the importance of flexibility and comfort was never undermined; a fact that G Star Raw felt like it was time to remind the world of. Therefore, the new 5620 Dimension pant has evoked those qualities, through advanced moulding techniques, while staying true to their 3D-concept which adds volume for body parts in motion, such as the knees, in five different directions.
G-star Raw recently revealed their newest concept for the fall/winter collection – a line named Deep Tones, featuring denim that have undergone a formulated molecular treatment which will prevent the fading of colours when washing. This treatment has been applied to the Elwood and Arc pants. Aside from denim, experiments have also been carried out on wrap dresses and coveralls; by baking the denim, a more crinkled texture was obtained.
Since its inception in 1989, G Star Raw has so far been at the vanguard of jeans innovation; the challenge however lies in continuously moving forward with the technological 3D development while approaching ethical and environmental issues in new dimensions as well. Since 2011, the brand has lead a close collaboration with the multi-stakeholder organisation MADE-BY which aims to ameliorate environmental and social conditions in the fashion world. All hail to innovation, but let’s not forget that with great technological progress comes great corporate responsibility.
