What We Wear SS18: Materialising a new form of Athleisure
For the spring summer season, Tinie Tempah exhibited his very own creation in a manner that transcended a typical display and showcased the functional aspect of his designs to their very best potential.
Greeted with a makeshift basketball court that was surrounded with courtside seats and locker room benches, visitors entered a space that was filled with models participating in a basketball game and perching on the benches. A far cry from the archetypal model-audience division, the favouring of an immersive display enabled visitors to examine details of the garments from an up-close perspective, perfectly encapsulating and demonstrating an understanding of how a garment should endure the movement that it is designed for.
Many of the models were clad in activewear garments that were very much on trend and perfect for those who follow Athleisure. A jacket and tracksuit combo featuring in black and steel blue and finished with white streamlining and a ring pull zip expressed Tinie Tempah’s own vision infused with the visuals of a classic outfit. Completing the outfits were the additions of Cutler and Gross eyewear and a remake of Converse one stars, creating an interaction between sports attire and contemporary high street fashion.
What was most interesting was the showcase of the sporting potential of garments that may not readily be deemed as activewear. All moving with ease and no inhibition against the model’s movements, many of the garments demonstrated that style does not have to be compromised over function. A Tawny coloured jacket appeared to embody a practical, contemporary twist on the timeless shearling jacket. A sky blue tailored appropriation of the denim jacket, finished with double zips embodied stylish athletic elements with formality, and unusually, a delicate mohair buttoned cardigan introduced the use of a material seldom associated with activewear, creating a new field to explore in the domain of Athleisure.
Perfectly tying ensembles together with their sporting roots, What We Wear SS18 innovatively recharged the Athleisure trend with new materials and designs to explore, alongside the affirmation that their practicality would be maintained.
Text: Libby Festorazzi
