G-Star RAW Fall 2011 Preview

 

Since G-Star RAW is one of the few denim brands that put on a runway show, visiting their showroom is always a treat. With the 'NY RAW' runway collection hanging on the racks next to the garments that will be sold in stores, I get the rare opportunity to see how concept translates to retail.

Remember that awesome oversized diamond quilting in pants, ankle-length skirts and glossy tops that appeared on the runway? It makes an appearance in it's glossy incarnation as a removable lining in several outerwear styles (above). Speaking of outerwear, I found myself spending a lot of time on it. There are some really great offerings this season and in true G-Star fashion, they have the best details. A denim parka has two functional zippers for versatility in fit and style (below). This zipper detail can also be seen on a covetable hooded cape. A cape was seen on a male model during fashion week but I guess the guys aren't ready for it yet.

For men, the quilting also carried over into outerwear and notably in a boiled wool sweater knit with a denim hunting patch. I can't help but remark over and over again that it's details like this that make me never tire of this brand. I hovered over the 'RAW Sustainable' collection for quite some time, which includes the 'RAW Organic', 'RAW Recycled' and 'RAW Nettle' lines. Last year it was simply called RAW Organic and was an experimental endeavor with just a few pieces. It's an encouraging indicator of the zeitgeist of this generation to see how it's grown in such a short time.

Every showroom visit I do, I always highlight a favorite. However, with G-Star it's always difficult because so much thought goes into each piece and I walk away liking or admiring so much. So instead I will give an honorable mention to the brand's take on color in women's jeans dyed with a red 3-Dimensional wash. Color is going to make a strong statement in denim this Spring and Fall and it's nice to see some experimentation with it. For men the '3301' line gets an honorable mention for it's user-friendly slim-straight fits and washes that are sure to attract newbies to the brand.