09/07/2012

Met at Pitti 82: G-Star RAW

Met at Pitti 82: G-Star RAW

G-Star Raw is one of the companies bringing constant innovation to the world of denim, and for our second Pitti meeting, The Blogazine attended a special event in the historical Sala Ottagonale inside the Fortezza da Basso in Florence. We found out about new research, heard the story behind the collection and ran into the head designer Pierre Morisset.

High ceiling and rough brick walls characterized the environment where the G-Star Raw S/S13 collection was presented during Pitti Uomo 82. The collection offered many different parts, all connected through the one material that the company is truly passionate about; denim.

“It’s a beautiful fabric of infinite possibilities,” said Pierre Morisset. When researching the history of denim, G-Star revealed that this versatile fabric dates back much longer than many other stories tell us. This toile de chine was worn by Chinese sailors already 300 years back, and infact G-Star Raw had let the slightly Asian inspiration shine through in detailing and cuts for a part of the collection. Another important and appreciated part of the men’s collection is the Red Listing, a tribute to the vintage denim. The pieces, which are woven on vintage looms, have a specific characteristic and slender unevenness in the structure of the fabric. The disparity continues in the colours, that due to several dying processes ranges from green to the classic denim blue.

When speaking of the collection, and of the part of G-Star Elwood, the conversation turned towards the G-Star Atelier. “The Atelier is five to ten years ahead in their thinking, everything we do has a starting point there,” The Blogazine was told. After being guided through the pieces developed from the atelier, we are now even more intrigued to learn more about the place where denim is an obsession and the ideas lead to endless possibilities.

Lisa Olsson Hjerpe

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
06/04/2012

G Star Raw And The 3rd Dimension of Denim

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.

Petsy von Köhler – Images from the SS12 collection 

Share: Facebook,  Twitter