LAB HOMME | FALL / WINTER 2012

Australian menswear brand Lab Homme looked to the traditional Japanese sport Kendo for their Fall / Winter 2012 collection, Kendomalia.

Kendo is the traditional sport of the Japanese fencing formed in the late 18th Century. The refined costumes and disciplined movements inspired the designers to create suiting separates and casual pieces reflective of the intellectually challenging sport.

Drawing on the signature aesthetic of classicism from a modernist stance, Lab Homme managed to create a collection rife in Japanese influence. The result was a romantic approach to the principles of Kendo, a little different from the traditional meaning of the word, “Way of The Sword”.

A mix of loose linens matched with tailored blazers and shorts lends itself to a smart casual aesthetic. This alongside soft layering became an armour-like barrier, where luxury fabrics cocooned the body in a protective manner.

- Charlotte Stamp