Trend Alert: Trashion

Anti Fashion=fashion=Trashion

Take the jean and trash it.  Ripping and shredding continues to fascinate.   Accompanied by bleach and paint splashes we use our jeans as a canvas to create our own image.

Composite Image ©TheDenimEye, Front Left ©Fear of God

The denim underneath is masked by surface activity but it is the old style vintage crackle open end denim looks that are most appropriate for our blank canvas.    Rigid non stretch denims are the best canvas for destruction - simple cotton with no lycra threads shred more naturally. 

Trash fashion is old vintage with attitude.   We have fallen in love with old denim and jeans, they are pre-loved, they have history which manifests itself through the rips, tears , fades and tints.   Replicating the originals is where today's Trashion began but now we have taken it to new levels of destruction.  Massive holes barely held together by loose threads creative bleaching has given new life to dark jeans.  Tints will change the original colour of the jean or make it look dirty and well used.

Composite Image ©TheDenimEye

Creative patching has achieved a life of its own bearing no relation to any holes beneath.  Use different colours of denim or contrast fabric and threads - add rips on top - keep layering - keep adding interest.  Create your own personal craft jeans.   

Composite Image ©TheDenimEye

Make shredding a feature of a simple denim shape - both indigo warp and white weft threads combine to create a sustainable  "fur" appearance.  Embellishment and creative destruction supports  huge businesses with many success stories from small time creators alongside the great brands such as Levi' customised tailoring.

Composite Image ©TheDenimEye

90's Grunge reappears mixed with iconic brand identities such as here The Adidas three stripe creates a new sport/street vibe.  Art School attitude of old 70's flares plus paint splattered silk and black leather achieves a casual bohemian attitude. 

Bleached and Lasered

White can also start black!  In denim we can make anything happen.

Black denim, pigment coated white followed by a heavy scrape to reveal the black inside. Scraping simply as a worn effect or crackled to create a pattern. The laundry is the place for artistry be it by traditional drum tumbling or laser creation.

Bleached out white coveralls started life as a utility garment which has  morphed into daily fashion. In this case for a guy but it is a look which is totally gender neutral.  We wore denim overalls, now boiler suits, in the 60's which resembled old flying jackets. We do so again today. Worker and painter coveralls are likewise on trend for both genders.

©Denim Style

Biker Blacks

Be they grunge or be they clean black, denims are serious.  Worn out states "I'm a tough guy, don't mess with me".  Clean combines with chrome to say the same in a more studied fashion way. They all demand you to "look at me".  Black leather, black denim chrome buckles, belts and bikes - the look endures today and when it is not fashion it is off duty with attitude.

©The black Leather Jacket

Black leather and jeans is a look which endures today.   Born in the era of Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley, James Dean it's smoky, smouldering, sexy.  

©Denim From Cowboys to Catwalks

A clean paired down black black fashion look which retains overtones of a tough sexiness.  A "go to" look when blue jeans are just too worn out.  

Black denim shorts and dresses can also be lighthearted, not pretty but quirky and gamine.  More serious than a pretty floral dress for the occasion.

Trend Alert: Forever Black, Forever White

Monochromatic jeans-wear exhibits drama with chic style. A counterpoint to "the Blues". Black and white both together and independently as white on white and black on black are a strong statement. This is the tough yet soft denim twill we love catapulted into urban fashion. No need to be in a classic 5 pocket, any style both stretch and rigid works for us. Neither colour has the wash down charm of indigo denim but with new technology we can fake the degradation creating a non colour worn out attitude. Both black and white however, are best used clean as pure bleached white or dense clear black black.

A soupçon of stretch aids comfort and more elasticity creates super fit and form just as with the blues. They both demonstrate subtle character, drinking in the warp slubs to create a natural surface texture. Black denim and white denim have serious attitude - neither is basic. Think back to "On The Waterfront" and "Blade Runner" where we think black and the black and white movies that were visually so compelling. 

L: ©Nicholas K C: © The Black Leather Jacket

Black black is a term for both the denim and the head to toe look.  The denim is black warp with black weft or black over dyed black.  Creating a look that is fathom deep and dense. Whichever way it is achieved the look must be a clean clear black without a hint of a tint. Just bright and clear. And of course it must work seamlessly with other blacks - black leather, silk, suede, wool and more.

L: ©Wanda Nylon R: © Interior View 7

Black and white used together for super graphic drama.

Imagine in denim - Wow!

Black and white always looks modern whichever colour is dominant. Remember Marimeko whose prints still look amazing today. Black and white being devoid of all colour demands you see the form and shape more clearly.

L-R: © Julian David, ©Diesel Black Gold, ©Messagerie

Why do we want to wear black denim jeans to an "occasion" instead of smart black ordinary pants?  Because they are more than ordinary.  They have attitude - with a rolled cuff, a prominent side seam, a perfect 5 pocketed fit and a super leg shape, all due to the inherent qualities of denim.  Why wouldn't you?

Trend Alert: Edge of Architecture, Edge of Cool

Geometry and clean lines are essential for contemporary denims. Shapes not normally associated with jeans-wear lend a higher fashion attitude. Architectural influenced structure. Unusual and clever cutting. Simple clean dark denims, coatings make a difference. Ecru and white play key roles alongside dark indigos. Gathering and layering increase the role of lighter weights. Simple neat chic and tidy. Minimal style detail just clean cuts. Urban denim pieces work across all fashion. Combine denim and leather in unusual combos. Coating lends an edge to sharp tailoring. 

©TheDenimEye2016

Coated denims live alongside laundry- coated denim, each have their own reason to be. Coatings on fabrics can change the colour, lock in the colour, and add body and volume.   Coated jeans can be more soft and supple with discrete or high shine in any colour. Coated jeans allow inventory flexibility. Coatings achieve impermeability with breathability for functional denim. Shine is less obvious and leathers more real. Lustre and glow rather than high shine. Coated jeans with front crease for urbanites. Sleek and slick denims gain a city edge with coated finishes.

Linear, clean, structured urban masculine patterns in dark indigo-laser achieved. Straight and simple,no  wear and tear-keep it clean and simple. Light coating for clean shapes. Permanent front crease washes white in the laundry.

©TheDenimEye2016

Fine warp lines, slubs not streaks. Cords and piques, suiting dobbies. Light stretch for slim, not tight shapes. Light coateds with discrete shine. Blues are dark to bright. Tweed denims with discrete slubs. Neps and nubs plus light stretch. Mini patterns and new dobbies. Marled and mélange warps and wefts.

©TheDenimEye2016

©TheDenimEye2016

Trend Direction: SOFT FOCUS

Baggy + soft;  Super soft + light;  Focus on comfort.

Indigo Blue denims with added hi-touch and fluid drape. New techniques + softest fibres enhance the light tactile effect. Max-sized flares where cut + construction + soft faces are key to make the shape drape and the impression hazy. Mélange warps lend the haze to light indigos; brushing and sueding renders the surface soft and tactile; this is comfort and cocooning indigo - from loungewear to dress wear to jeanswear. 

©TheDenimEye2016

Tencel softness with heavy drape and lustre. Embossing on shine creates another indigo dimension. Fraying the edges for added softening effect makes extra casual what may otherwise be a bit too dressy.

©TheDenimEye2016

Lyocell blended indigos add softness and drape to even mid weight denims allowing the shapes to be manipulated and re-formed from which new styles are born.

Collaged image: ©TheDenimEye2016 Jeans : ©The Y-Project

Trend Direction: NANTUCKET

Trend - Nantucket

It's natural; It's bluer than blue; It's sunny sand; It's the freedom of sail.  

Sunbleached driftwood and sand shades combine with Breton and deck chair stripes and faded weatherboarding accented by the occasional faded sailors red and bleached aqua. Heavy and natural textures for coarse cotton knit cover ups and rough linen cut offs.

©TheDenimEye2016

Images L-R; ©TheDenimEye2016, ©TheDenimEye2016, ©American Family Style Viking Studio Books 1988

©TheDenimEye, ©SeanSlattery