Following on from the AW’13 jacket collection, Descente’s Dual-ism Project returns for SS’14. Continuing with his base philosophy of Primal Futurism, whereby the vintage is mixed with the future, this season’s collection sees project lead designer, Yoshinori Ono (YONO), embrace the notion of “Kinagashi”, a Japanese word meaning to dress in a casual but smart way, in lighter yet still comfortable garments.
The focus on lightweight fabrics is central to the pieces – there are packable hooded parkas in ripstop parachute fabric, providing water and wind resistance in high visibility colours of Red, Yellow, Ice Blue and Navy. Other pieces feature lightweight but functional fabrics such as high density woven polyester, water resistant bonded fabrics as well as cotton typewriter cloth with the ability to adapt and protect in several weather conditions. Prices range from £250-£350.
SS’14 also sees the introduction of sweatshirts, polo and t-shirts, expanding the collection from last winter. The collection comprises woven cotton fleece bonded fabrics with contrast polyester trim detailing. Hybrid cotton jackets with water repellent properties can be used as layering or protection items to serve as key items for the season. Prices range from £65-£150.
Descente ‘WHITE’
Descente ‘WHITE’ is a capsule collection of 2 field jackets with the standard Descente logo reversed to black logo on white background. These limited run pieces are examples of Japanese fabrics and technology at the highest possible standards entirely designed and manufactured in Japan. The capsule jackets include Japanese printed and garment dyed fabrics from KOMATSU, a renowned technical fabric manufacturer in this field. The jackets are priced at £450.
The garments are sewn after pigment dye of the prints with a high pressure dyeing machine to produce a dyeing process which is labour intensive but delivers very refined results.
The collections are available now via a limited number of UK stockists, including Flannels, Tessuti and Woodhouse.
Thanks to Chris and Harriet at ZoneTwo for their assistance with this article.
