Kim Jones: Avant-Garde Sportswear
By Mari Davis
Photos by FW

PARIS, Jul 4, 2005/ FW/ --- With a collection entitled ‘Master Blaster,’ Kim Jones celebrated his third season on the Paris runways with avant-garde sportswear that came from eclectic influences.

With red photons on the backdrop and smoke added for drama, the overall effect was reminiscent of the underground music scene when Seattle sound was in its infancy.

But the collection was as far away from grunge as possible. Rather, it was the spirit of the 1990s “discovery and innovation,” when the Internet was the way of the future and bands like Pearl Jam defied conventions of the music industry.

Setting that tone of rebelliousness and futuristic aspect of the last decade of the 20th century, Kim Jones proposed his innovations and vision of the future of men’s dressing for Spring / Summer 2006.

The short kimono, long relegated in urban America to the dojos of martial arts, courtesy of the ‘Karate Kid’ movies took center stage as the new outfit for skateboarding, together with the traditional denim shorts and t-shorts.

Yet, Kim Jones’ view of the ‘traditional’ skateboarding garb is also different. The denim pants cut just below the knee had been stonewashed to almost white and while keeping the ‘blue jeans’ aspect, the blue was lighter bordering on sorbet.

Understanding the comfort is the key, Kim Jones kept the pants and shorts loose, his only nod to the current trends was making trousers low-waist and low-rise.

And in a season where the jacket is king, Kim Jones’ interpretation has a touch of sedition – making the bomber jacket stripes and checks, the Nehru jacket paired with t-shirts and the tuxedo vest part and parcel of the traditional tuxedo shirt.

To satisfy his fans and clients, the British-born designer also sent out his signature shirts with keyholes on the sleeves and armpits that also came in cable knits.

It was a different vision on menswear, that is for sure, but it works. The Japanese retail buyers present in the audience were busy taking notes while the journalists have their pen poised to write about a new proposal for sportswear.

Kim Jones

Kim Jones

Kim Jones

Kim Jones