ARCHIVAL REINVENT AW21-22: PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Upon its inception a year ago, Hong Kong-based collective Archival Reinvent has been exploring the creative possibilities of a garment industry that’s on everyone’s lips: techwear. And while their debut collection was a nod to the dystopian future of the 1999 cult film “The Matrix”, now ARC (which stands for Archival, Reinvent, and Construction) has done a 180 turn and hit mountainous landscapes to shoot their AW ’21-22 collection, which is titled “Photosynthesis”.
Though the setting changed, one thing remained clear: the brand’s functionality-first design approach. Bent on apprehending the wet and cold conditions that come with the autumn and winter months, pieces from the collection are made of fabrications on the cutting edge of innovation, such as Teflon and thermosensitive fabrics. Two highlights of this season are two lightweight Teflon-coated garms, which, besides being sturdy, breathable, fully wind- and waterproof and dirt-repellant, are in essence modular pieces — one jacket turns into a crossbody bag, and the Switchable Cover Shirt, as you’d guess, can be switched into alternate stylings. Other notable designs include a crisp white down-filled puffer jacket, not to mention this season’s introduction: the Teflon Statement Warp Dress, extending the brand’s technical cool into womenswear.
While pieces from ARC’s range are geared up to face the rigors of the great outdoors, they’ll find a home in the urban landscape. Reflecting on the collection’s multifunctional designs, the colour palette strays from city, industrial colours of jet blacks and concrete greys, which collides with light tones of white and earth tones of brown and khaki.
