German brand 22/4 created by designer Stephanie Haln, presented a playful new Spring/Summer collection: “Seaside Memories” at the Palais de Tokyo during Paris Fashion Week Men’s. Clean lines and jaunty stripes met the classic signature tailoring of 22/4 bring to mind the nostalgia of the seaside experience.
The name of the Dusseldorf based brand 22/4 is based on the mathematical equation 2+2=4. The reason behind the name is the technical measurements and proportions which are very important in the industry. This underlines the great deal of attention to ever high standards of the brand which are evident in this collection as well – nautical notions like eyelets and cords, draws the eye once again to the designer’s known attention to details. Graphic design elements, such as the exclusively in-house designed seahorse logo were printed on silk and light shirting cotton, bringing a touch of whimsy and sentimentality to the collection, recollecting the early swim experience of the designer’s childhood in Germany. Another key element that continues from former collection is the fact that the designer makes no distinction between men and women’s garments and in this collection we could see both male and female models on the catwalk.
Striped textiles of day looks brings to mind images of beach chairs, umbrellas and towels, while the sparkling details of the evening pieces reflect the appearance of light dancing on the surface of the water.“I wanted to utilize the intermix of textiles and colour in this collection to accentuate and encapsulate the playfulness of a summer holiday,” says designer Stephanie Hahn. “It’s about nostalgia, it’s about the beach, but it’s about elegance, too.”
A glittering evening gown calls to mind the dramatic beauty not only of the ocean itself, but of iconic images like Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’. Elegant beach suits and swim trunks marks the trend of the 22/4 Neptune-Dandy. Jumpsuits for both men and women are a nod to 19th century swimwear, accessorised with cool bathing-cap hats, eye-catching pearl jewellery elements, waterproof beach-box cross bodies, bottle openers and fun nautical standards like a cork key ring pendant, this season is all about resonant with the holiday feeling.
A seaside palette of blues and whites welcomes the eye with a fresh feeling of summer and the stirring motion of the ocean meeting the sky. Atlantic blue, azure, navy, dark blue and turquoise represent the swirling waters paired with classic beach tones like bright white, sand, white and pearl. Pops of green in sea grass and wakame shades provide a surprising earthiness, contrasted by prints and palettes to conjure the shimmering world under the waves. The materials for this season are all about warm weather and beach memories, integrating top-quality textiles like light Italian tropical wool, viscose wool blends, lurex, Italian light and heavy cotton, and silk.
