KLASICA SPRING SUMMER 23 "SHADES"
Here's why Klasica' Spring/Summer 2023 collection is not to be missed
It was a chance encounter during Paris Fashion Week that led us to discover the Japanese label Klasica, but it’s its designer Kohei Kawamura’s artisanal approach that left such a lasting impression on us.
Klasica Spring/Summer 2023 [SHADES]
Staying true to its aesthetic, the brand’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection continues to reference the art of tailoring. Referencing vintage military workwear, Dutch fishermen's attire and Morrocan tailoring, the designer peppered all the details that he loves throughout the line-up.
When it comes to bottoms, Kawamura kept it simple with the designs and let the silhouettes do the talking. The array of outerwear definitely embodies the brand’s charms. There’s the 9 Buttons Doll blazer that has an alluring doll-like silhouette complete with — you guessed it — nine buttons down the front; the vintage French-inspired work atelier coat in a wide, straight cut; and unisex long shirts that combine the best of Moroccan and classic tailoring.
Bottom-wise, military-inspired over pants are given the oversized treatment; shorts are boldly cut-off with lower-placed pockets; wide-leg trousers feature adjustable hem straps that “change” to a peg-top once they’re tightened. Titled “Shades”, colours are, of course, one of this round’s main highlights. Unlike most brands, Kawamura dyes his pieces in their entirety after they’re completed.
Natural dyes
Utilising mainly natural dyes including cinnamon as well as an indigo dye, the dyeing process shrinks the clothes by 3 to 4 per cent, which means that they have to be made in a slightly larger size beforehand to nail the final sizing. It’s a truly artisanal attempt, and we’re constantly mesmerized by his work.
About Klasica
Helmed by designer Kohei Kawamura, Klasica is a one-man brand based in Shimokitazawa Tokyo, a neighbourhood known for its eclectic energy and vintage fashion.
Having grown up in the seaside town of Hokkaido, instead of taking inspiration from the ocean, Kawamura was, instead, fascinated by the military uniforms and workwear throughout history. From antique Japanese fireman jackets to historical French military uniforms, he has splurged and collected them all in order to pick them apart for their patterns.
While his references are from all over the world, his aesthetic is ultimately Japanese in craftsmanship and in quality of fabric. Championing the art of tailoring, the designer is particularly obsessed with cotton and linen, and he insists on experimenting and crafting every single look in his collection with his two hands, hence his pieces are truly handmade with passion.
