Countdown to NYFWM: 13 Designers Reveal their Inspiration for Spring-Summer 2017

The third Men's New York Fashion Week kicks off on July 11 for four days of runway shows and presentations. Here, 13 labels share the sketches and inspirations for their spring-summer 2017 collections. 

Photo: Courtesy of brands

For the spring-summer 2017 Collection, creative director Michael Maccari explored the artistic concept of collage. Cultural shifts in music, politics, and fashion informed the design process. Maccari sought beauty in the delicate balance of functionality and versatility, and applied this thought to both the collection and the presentation. Collage and contrast came to life in the presentation space, with models rotating among graphic elements of the collection which were translated throughout the space.

"Sworn to Fun, Loyal to None." 

Illustration: Sung Jin Lee

"Our collection, Dead Sea, explores a mash up of colors, wash and texture surrounding my journey following the Grateful Dead throughout the '80s. A recent trip to their birth place along the California coastline allowed use to merge mariner-inspired wears with classic Dead undertones." Scot Shandalove, co-creator

Photo: Matiere

"Where reality meets dreamland, where sartorial and sport collide with fanciful playfulness, is where the David Naman customer resides. In his mind, there are no boundaries, only limitless options for him to play with." 

"We look into the expiration date of infrastructure in the world."

"This season, we continue to use Japanese cottons and linens to express a feeling of global personalities in peace and freedom in how we dress." Peter Trainor, creator

Designer Nicholas Elliott took inspiration from two seemingly unrelated places: Voltaire, the 18th century writer who focused much of his work on the elite of his day (the Catholic Church and the aristocracy), and Elliott’s childhood crushes, alternative boys who were interested in art, philosophy, and politics.

 “I loved Voltaire for his views on the power systems of his day and that was a great source of inspiration for this collection", Elliott says. "Not in a historical fashion sense but more of an ethos of the collection―a rebelliousness in the face of the status quo. That rebellious spirit reminds me of being an outspoken teenager.”

"Man working"

Landlord's second collection (and the brand’s debut presentation at New York Fashion Week: Men’s) is inspired by contemporary artist, Isa Genzken, whose work often draws upon material culture, design, consumer goods, media, architecture, and urban environments. Landlord reinterpreted Genzken’s works by designing a collection through a Genzken-like lens―focusing primarily on the urban Industry City, the Brooklyn-based industrial complex which also serves as the brand’s design headquarters in New York.

"We were inspired by a recent trip we took to Italy, especially its art, architecture, and fashion history." Brad Schmidt and Raúl Arévalo, co-creators

"The 'Our Men in Havana' collection is based on the Tropicana Club in pre-revolutionary Havana when it was in its heyday. Gangsters, royalty, secret agents, and show girls combined to create a glamorous, though slightly dangerous scene that was unequaled in the world."

"The spring collection is inspired by west coast surf culture of the 1960s. I referenced photographs by Leroy Grannis for the color palette and music by Link Wray & Dick Dale for the print and pattern development."

"Taking inspiration from the laid-back beach culture of Malibu and the California coast, the latest offering features a more diverse color palette of warm hues, while building on the brand’s core mission to create luxury wardrobe essentials for the cosmopolitan man." Dylan Granger, founder

"The SS17 collection is inspired by the work of David Hockney. Contemporary interpretations of his classic '60s attitude is seen throughout an array of colorful pieces."

Illustration: Seung Bae Kim
 

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