Kanye West in collaboration with Adidas Originals has launched a lookbook called “Yeezy Season One,” as photographed by Jackie Nickerson. The dense look and feel of the photographs, which include women’s naked bodies that are far more muscular and less Photoshopped than the norm, stand outs from the usual idealized, borderline fantasy imagery the fashion industry tends to trade in. West himself is among the models, as is the contrarian streetwear consultant Ian Connor.
Featured items are from the recent runway show, held in New York, and include an array of sporty tops, bottoms, sneakers and boots. Though not yet confirmed, Prices are said to range from around $400 for tops up to as much as $3,500 for outerwear. Given this collection was shown during the Autumn 2015 shows, it probably will begin to hit retail in July or August. Based on the price, it will probably be sold into high-end boutiques and departments stores like Barney’s and DSM.
The clothes from a trend perspective are very much are part of the seismic shift in fashion that is now beginning to have a meaningful impact on fashion. What started as an upstart streetwear movement celebrating smartly-designed, sport-inspired apparel and shoes has grown into a movement including brands like Off White, Public School, Kith and County of Milan that are influencing and in some cases pushing aside establishment fashion brands.
Debating whether or not one believe West deserves to be a part of that collective as a fashion designer seems rather silly, given how incredibly influential he has been in the fashion world for the past six years or so. Yes, there are those within his circle whose ears are closer to the ground, but nonetheless, West is the undisputed ultimate arbiter and the list of brands who have benefited from major profile and sales boosts from him wearing their clothes is long. At this point, the bigger mistake for West would be for him not to cash in on his established talent for moving product.
