The word that comes to mind when you see Greg Lauren’s clothes is “deconstructed” or alternatively, “tatterdemalion, ”albeit it in a very noble bohemian kind of way. ” However, when you look closely at his clothes there are genius elements to be discovered. Every single scrap of fabric is either rare, vintage, and or hand-distressed.
While most designers are going for a posh look that can be mass produced Lauren is going in the completely opposite direction. His genuine love of authentic fabrics and deconstruction sets him apart from the crowd. He constructs many of his must-have iconic military pieces out of vintage duffel bags, and army canvas, with many derived from World War II. This elevates Lauren’s garment to one-of-a-kind status. According to the designer, every one of his garments are made one at a time in a small studio in Los Angeles. Nothing is factory-made with the exception of a few knitted pieces which are handcrafted outside his studio.
Lauren’s deconstruction of American classics such as army jackets, coveralls, flight suits, and cargo pants all have a unique lived-in appeal that keeps his designs at the forefront of menswear styles. Among the many pieces that stood out particularly in the men’s collection for spring 2016 was an enormous Mexican poncho that fell all the way to the ground and reminded one of Clint Eastwood in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” circa 1966. This was followed by a denim and indigo segment that resulted in a vintage-inspired three-piece striped suit with cargo pockets. The theme continued with roomy jeans pieced-together with large cargo pockets, mixed with Lauren’s signature military jackets. Lauren purposely loves to plays with masculine/feminine archetypes to push the boundaries of what is considered masculine or feminine. He has women buying men’s pieces and men buying women’s pieces, and that’s an excellent problem to have.
