This new Acne Studios Spring/Summer 2024 collection, helmed by the inspired Jonny Johansson, carries the whimsical charm of an updated Grand Tour – that age-old voyage of privileged youth through Europe, but with a distinct twist that redefines the 17th-century tradition for the post-pandemic globe-trotter.
Johansson, the creative force behind Acne Studios, dives into the lustrous heart of Venice, weaving his experiences into the fabric of his latest collection. Amidst gondola rides under star-studded skies, coffee breaks in St. Mark’s Square, and visits to the islands of Burano and Murano, a story emerges: one of accumulating experiences, daring identity shifts, and eclectic fashion improvisations.
Who said travel wardrobes need to be predictable? Ever been struck by the sheer panic of underpacking? Johansson proffers an imaginative solution: a shawl repurposed into a halterneck top, pausing perfectly against pink-dyed, apron-fronted jeans. In one swift, audacious stroke, Acne Studios reintroduces the fashion world to the concept of vacation-induced inventiveness.
And it doesn’t stop there. This collection is peppered with unexpected features, such as cycling shorts and skintight knits with tubular padding – a subtle nod to the delightful dilemma of couples sharing a vacation wardrobe. However, the real showstoppers lie in the denim pieces, harking back to Acne Studio’s humble beginnings as a denim brand in 1997.
One might argue that Acne Studio’s foray into the baroque isn’t entirely unpredictable. After all, the brand has always been a trailblazer in the fashion industry, championing genderless dressing and aesthetic boundary-pushing. But the Spring/Summer 2024 collection is a departure from the minimalist raw denim jeans that originally catapulted Acne Studio into fashion consciousness. “We’re not like a shoemaker that’s making the same shoe and just refining that. We’re more explosive,” Johansson muses, hinting at his ongoing quest for unexplored territories.
A delightful surprise in this collection comes in the form of a collaboration with Swedish ceramic and glass artist, Per B. Sundberg. Known for his humorous and provocative creations, Sundberg’s influence is apparent in the prints on glossy pants and an assortment of jewelry pieces, including a cartoonish skull ring. It’s a playful challenge to our aesthetic sensibilities, with Johansson asking, “Is it good? Is it not good? That’s the question.”
True to the ethos of Acne Studios, the Spring/Summer 2024 collection champions risk-taking. A tour of the collection doesn’t just reveal new fashion pieces; it leads us through Johansson’s travel-infused narrative, his inspirations, his audacious fashion improvisations. In doing so, it invites us all to reimagine the rules, to shake off the rigidity of tradition, and to take that wild risk.
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