Faith Connexion has all the ingredients required for a first-rate runway in 2016. Celebrity clients in the form of Kanye West and Beyoncé for the front row, Instagram-friendly rock ’n’ roll clothes, and massive sales to pay for the whole shebang. And yet, they’re sticking with the showroom and producing a lookbook. Up-and-coming rappers Vic Mensa and Tommy Genesis and DJ Sita Abellán star in it this season, and they look like they’re wearing clothes pulled from their tour suitcases.
There are leather jackets and cargo jackets hand-painted by the French graffiti artists Pisco Logik and Vincent Dacquin, rumpled and ruffled lacy white shirts, skinny jeans manhandled with a million different treatments, and punked-up Perfectos by the Korean designer and punk band founder Bajowoo of 99%IS. The formula doesn’t change much season to season, but the collection seems to grow and grow.
The most compelling development for Spring is probably Faith’s flag pieces: an oversize hooded coat, a tiny miniskirt with a train, and other looks patchworked together from different countries’ flags. Some of the flags have been stonewashed to look sun-bleached; others appear brand new. Either way they convey an earnestness and optimism that feels somehow against-type for Faith Connexion, while remaining every bit as audacious as the rest of the lineup.
This editor tried to convince a PR rep to consider a show next season; Paris could use some badassitude. Sad to report not much progress was made on that front, but there’s always next time.
