Season 5 was an interesting collection to develop. At a first glance, it looks really simple. I mean, after all, it is a just a collection inspired by wardrobe basics and everyday staples. But digging into my intention behind the collection, it's much more than that.

 

My latest body of work is my fifth drop since launching With A Beginner's Mind in 2020. It's been a really fun ride, and this season challenged me to develop a viewpoint on silhouette and tailoring.

 

In my previous collections, I focused on highlighting my design ethos through select pieces. The purpose behind each garment was to pursue a curiosity, ideate on it, and then ultimately design. For example, Season 1 was denim; Season 2 was sweatpants; Season 3 was outerwear; Season 4 was a matching shirt and pant "uniform".

 

While it was great showcasing my ideas, I observed that these designs didn't necessarily represent a cohesive idea. Season 5 seeks to bridge this gap by introducing basics that can be worn individually or styled interchangeably with items from past, present and future collections. It's for this reason the season is titled "Stand Tall". I wanted to design clothes that are approachable, accessible, and modular.

 

My interpretation of standing tall is to be firm in your beliefs. I first looked through my own wardrobe and identified pieces, largely inspired by Japanese raw denim, sportswear, and menswear with an emphasis on classic shapes and clean tailoring. I then conceptualized the archetype of how garments would look in the future. In other words, I took a stand on the proportions and silhouettes I would be consistently designing into season over season.

 

The outcome is what you see in Season 5. The design notes are 1) influenced by denim 2) relaxed fits and 3) slightly cropped. I understand right now that menswear trend is driven by exaggeratedly cropped styles. But in building a collection that will be a future classic, I realized I had to find balance between a cropped fit I enjoy wearing every once in a while versus a slightly cropped fit that will more appropriately match my style while remain timeless.

 

This season took 12 months to develop. Usually the explanation is that the designer wanted to chase perfection and wouldn't stop until it was achieved. For me, perfection wasn't my goal but it was pouring my heart and soul into ensuring that a "basics" collection really reflected my values.

 

To that end, I QC'd all production units. Usually the sewing facility will do that for you, but I wanted to make sure that everyone gets a quality product from my first wardrobe offering. I hope when you see items from Season 5 in person, you not only appreciate the thoughtfulness behind the design but also feel the love I put into each and every single piece.