NYFW SS19: R13 Denim

CHRIS Leba has mastered casual yet cool clothing. This afternoon, he took R13 Denim to Williamsburg – Brooklyn’s trendy sector – to unveil the brands SS19 collection. Much like the Manhattan skyline that served as a clear viewpoint from the setting of The William Vale hotel– the show proposed a striking scene, with bohemian prints and tie die takeovers laying at its forefront.

Leba’s ready-to-wear clothing reads as the perfect festival attire. Not the electronic kind though – total rockabilly instead. The show’s accompanying soundtrack sourced The Wytches and Dead Kennedys, with forceful guitar riffs pulsing through to the carefree attitudes of models clad in clashing colours and prints. One thing to note from the show: Leba doesn’t shy away from print. Rather – he embraces it to the max, allowing it to usurp his runway. From tropical trees to tie die takeovers, any girly connotations associated with pattern were erased. Grunge reigned on instead, for this was Leba’s cult of New York City women.

As for materials, denim dominated. It makes sense given the foundation of the brand, but Leba unveiled it across an array of silhouettes. Jackets, shorts, skirts – all pieces were casually chic, yet emitted different shape and structure given their scattered rips and tears. Paired with cowboy boots, bowler hats and beaded necklaces, nonchalant implications were strong, but there was a consistent undertone of sartorial awareness. That fact was aided by inclusions of fringe, leather and lace. Lena was looking back on his own teen years for reference – specifically the days of dancing and surfing with style. Nostalgia? Definitely – and it worked.

So is SS19 looking at a season for reflection? Quite possibly. If that reflection entails a youthful approach to dressing with fun and quirky garments, we’ll be signing up. Leba’s R13 Denim showcase was aptly placed too – a Saturday during New York Fashion Week, and as a result of it, the night ahead is certainly looking young.

by Faye Fearon