For Donrad Duncan, luxury means having both comfort and style, albeit in a highly stylized package of razor-sharp suits and separates. In his Spring 2018 menswear collection for EFM (Engineered for Motion), the designer referenced the “Rude Boy” culture from Jamaica associated with a fusion of R&B, ska, reggae and jazz. The smart style of dress focused on tight fitting suits worn with skinny ties and brogues.
For Duncan, that style translated to supremely tailored suits engineered in hi-tech fabrics that transform an active lifestyle into a truly elegant experience. You see, Duncan creates obsessively clean, hyper-modern menswear that moves and stretches in remarkable ways, but doesn’t look or feel like any sportswear you’ll see anywhere. Instead, his vision of menswear is cool and calculated with a uniquely modern sensibility. The designer takes it a step further, building in functional interior pockets with magnetic closures to accommodate daily tech life. Many of the outerwear pieces feature snap-off or stowaway hoods, and reverse entry pockets to ensure it was waterproof.
Many of the looks on the runway were undetectably luxurious – yet behave like active sportswear utilizing a tropical, lightweight wool fabric made with Coolmax for breathability. His use of graphic elements such as geometric prints and camouflage jacquards added an interesting visual element to seersucker and silk fabrications. “We’re trying to express sport and elegance, but in an easy way,” the designer said. Many elements of Rude Boy style are still present today in the street style swagger that you see everywhere on Instagram.
The Style and Significance of Rude Boy Style
Elements of Rude Boy are evident today in the street style swagger that you see everywhere on Instagram.