SEOUL FASHION WEEK SS18: R.SHEMISTE
R.SHEMISTE Spring/Summer 2018 collection review.
Words Joie Reinstein, Photos Seoul Fashion Week
R.SHEMISTE, a brand renowned for its risk taking, broke Seoul Fashion Week protocol this Tuesday by holding its SS18 show at its flagship store rather than at the DDP. Located up a small hill in the fashion mecca area of Sinsa, guests, models and photographers casually meandered around R.SHEMISTE’s new location before the show got underway. Neon lights, iridescent windows, a branded motorcycle out in the garden and old school televisions hanging in trees carefully communicated the quirky futuristic rebellion that is also found in R.SHEMISTE’s clothing.
With Bewhy’s upbeat hip hop playing in the background, the model’s wove their way through the garden and the store in outfits that could be labeled as Mountaineering Gangsta Chic. Last season it was the safety pin (a symbol of protection) that adorned every look whereas this season it was the carabiner (a metal device used in rock climbing that allows safety and connection) that was clearly on display. In fact, a set of branded carabiners were in every gift bag so it was clear R.SHEMISTE was once again trying to get a sartorial message across. The clothes themselves riffed on the previous collection with the heavy selvedge denim and the asymmetrical frankensteining of fabrics and textures. There were exciting new elements such as denim corsets, apron straps, unfinished embroidery of Chinese letters whose threads cascaded down garments and clear plastic overlays on trench coats. The juxtaposition of 90s sportswear silhouettes with eccentric tailoring with fabrics such as tweed was a nice touch.
Finally, R.SHEMISTE always excels in it's styling by pulling together radical pieces with even more eccentric accessories. Latex gloves, hazmat looking plastic covering on shoes, the oversized sun visors and the multi-pocket fanny packs that looked like portable “go bags” conveyed to us that R.SHEMISTE is apocalypse ready and able to boldly face any future scenario.
