Korean Designer Kang Dong Jun returns to London Fashion Week Men’s to presenting his Autumn Winter 18 collection for his label D.GNAK featuring his signature intelligent monochromes with an all-black and white collection that stood out articulating concepts without the use of colour.
The starting point of the collection was the Chinese phrase 場春夢 Translated as ‘a spring dream‘, or ‘an empty dream‘, the saying that echoes through centuries of Chinese poetry.
“Wealth, honour, attempts for a glamorous life, all disappear like a spring dream,” says the designer. In other words, while you may spend your life striving for money or status, all is temporary – you can’t take these things with you. A fitting reminder in an era of instant celebrity, follower counts and fast fashion, his words strike true to the heart of D.GNAK; at its core, it is a meditative exploration on dressing, urban life, and identity in the modern world.
The designer’s philosophy translates perfectly into this collection, a collision of elevated streetwear, traditional Korean silhouettes and Western tailoring – always playing an important role in his designs. the Autumn Winter 18 sees Kang.D work mostly in dark velvets and rich, tactile wools, also introducing jacquards and embroideries which are present once more expressing the unique identity and artisan mentality of the brand.
In a shadowplay of light and dark, motifs like memento mori skulls and crossbones appear on garments throughout the collection adding an edgy vibe to the pieces.
Once again D.GNAK presents a brilliant collection revealing and concealing at the same time, expressing the designer’s fascination with disruption, eclecticism and experimentation reflecting on the brand’s name – which is formed from the mirrored reflection of Kang’s name.
