Acne Studios Revisits Hussein Chalayan’s Archive
Acne Studios has joined forces with Hussein Chalayan for a 12-piece capsule collection that interprets the British-Cypriot designer’s early 2000s work into denim, jersey and leather.
Inspired by Ventriloquy (2001), Medea (2002) and Manifest Destiny (2003), the collaboration sees Chalayan’s innovative construction techniques incorporated into Acne Studios’ ready-to-wear offerings for the first time. Patchworked denim emerges across Acne Studios’ signature 1996 and 2009 jeans and a shirt, combined with a new twisted jean in trompe-l’œil python print. An asymmetrical denim vest and dress revisit the layered construction of Manifest Destiny, with similar techniques carried through into jersey pieces, while the Camero handbag is reworked in patchworked leather in denim hues.
“What unites us is the idea that design and creativity should always be the priority,” says Jonny Johansson, co-founder and creative director of Acne Studios.
“For Chalayan, the collaboration was a chance to view his work from a new perspective, “seeing the work interpreted made me realise that certain ideas can continue to resonate and evolve beyond their original context,” he says.
image courtesy Acne Studios Hussein Chalayan
Shot in London’s V&A East Storehouse, the accompanying campaign juxtaposes the capsule with archival pieces by Chalayan, drawing together the new work with the designs that inspired it.
The collab extends to Reference: Hussein Chalayan, a book published by Acne Studios and editorially directed by curator and editor Charlene Prempeh that pulls together archival illustrations, photography and text, exploring the continued influence of the designer on fashion and design. Limited to 1,000 copies, the book will be available online and selected stores and partners.
