Y-3 celebrate their 10th birthday and combine past and future in a collection that is characterized by vivid interpretations and remains in the forefront with its typical sport-style outfits.
The result is a wonderful show for spring summer 2013 introduced in New York: a collection that projects itself into the next ten years rather than dwell on the past.
The new collection was presented during New York Fashion Week in Soho and it revisits some ironic pieces of its pioneer years: the light neon prints, the baggy silhouettes, the three stripes motif and the influence of avant-garde in clothes and shoes.
Yohji Yamamoto, designer for the brand, speaks of a “backwards walk into the future”, a concept that is emblematic of the Y-3 world.
The St John’s Center was transformed for the occasion by the 3D projections of Devan Harlan; the models paraded to original music by Jiro Amimoto in front of an audience that included David Beckham, Michael Stripe, A$AP Rocky, Anton Yelchin, Brock Lopez, Isabel Lucas, Lupe Fiasco, Jesse Williams, Natasha Bedingfield, Casey Spooner, and Laure Shang.
The collection revisited the founding mission of Y-3: to define the future of sport and style. The concept is impressive firstly in the graphics, almost optical illusions, created by Mr. Hayashi, printer to the Japanese Imperial Family, who also designed the iconic hibiscus of the debut collection back in 2003.
This time Hayashi created three motifs: “feather”, “water” and “thorn” in brilliant shades of orange, pink and green. These prints are present on all outfits, from the meshed parkas to the baseball caps, from the silk scarves to the volley-balls, all the way to the leggings, canvas bags, clutches and ruche gloves.
Y-3 also revisit the motif of the three stripes, with spectacular results: it is declined in several ways on coats, pleated skirts and bold accessories.
For the coming season, Y-3 suggests a sophisticated, classical look: tennis-style dresses with pleated skirts, leather and piqué coats, cotton ruche sweaters and swing dresses in mesh and laces.
In spite of the presence of bagginess, the new collection introduces an unusual attention to the waist, for example in refined dresses and jackets that stress the feminine silhouette.
Whether it is a basic blue terry blazer, a jacket with curled sleeves or a trench-style short-sleeved dress, each outfit represents a new form of female elegance.
Graphics are also part of the footwear line, giving new life to iconic models of the Adidas tradition as in the sneakers with tip made of shell.
Geometrical wedges and open-toe sandals with heel and strap provide height to the Y-3 look, whilst techno ballerinas adorned with metallic rivets pair past and present. The shoes for men play with all the iconic models of Y-3 to create a myriad of models with multi-color stripes.
Oversized sunglasses produced in cooperation with English designer Linda Farrow complete the look, together with delicate straw peaked caps and horseman hats.
Backstage, David Beckham shared his passion for the brand. “I have a lot of respect for Adidas who had the far-sightedness to work with Yohji Yamamoto ten years ago. Y-3 is the perfect fusion between sports and fashion, it is absolutely innovative.”
Yohji Yamamoto commented: “My desire was and remains to make sportswear elegant and chic. With Y-3 we created something that did not exist before. After ten years, I am still in love with the three stripes.
