Garbstore SS17 Preview

The Garbstore SS17 collection takes on the task of pulling influences from iconic military styles from the Vietnam War while translating the essence into one with more peaceful tones. The era was keen on graphics and imagery, often promoting a military agenda. Stripping the clothing of all signs of violence, the Garbstore SS17 collection re-imagines signs of intolerance and hostility and introduces messages of acceptance through softer designs and caring considerations. For us, the tranquility of Lake Buttermere in the UK’s Lake District is the perfect personification of peace. Using a military tour jacket as a foundation, we change the tone with bespoke embroidery of the stunning lake featured across the back of the garment.  The image can also be spotted across a cotton tee, in a ‘paint by numbers’ template for playful appeal. Throughout SS17, care is dedicated to each piece we create.  Yarns see hand-dyed treatment, fabrics are designed to wear with ease and eco-friendly washes are featured periodically across the collection. Contrasting original military uniforms, we wanted this   line-up to shine peaceful by comparison. We replace military tags with softer badges and blocks of calm hues using intarsia techniques in the knitwear numbers and screen printing across the cotton tees. The collection’s title ‘In the Absence of Conflict’ doesn’t shy from accompanying the printed tops, representing a slogan of peace among the line-up. Our ongoing dedication to using the best quality Japanese fabrics and construction techniques results in a collection that fuses interesting adaptations and new directions for a range of non-military uniforms.