JOHN ELLIOTT LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER PRE-COLLECTION

by Stephen Garner

John ElliottLos Angeles-based designer John Elliott has launched his first-ever pre-collection on Friday with the debut of his pre-spring / summer 2019 line.

This season looks to the foundational pieces at the core of the brand, reimagined in new textiles and custom developed fabrics, playing with textures in a dune, taupe, olive and brown color palette.

A new fabrication in hoodie and crewneck terry silhouettes is inspired by the static from a television screen. Using a traditional Japanese dye method, often used in kimonos, yarn is dyed in unique gradient patterns – resulting in a natural randomness that creates glitch-like texture in each piece.

The outerwear this season utilizes iridescence, originally inspired by slick pavements, fog soaked concrete, and the oil spills John was cautious of when skateboarding as a kid in San Francisco. The Bogota Bomber, the brand’s core flight jacket silhouette, is reimagined in a more substantial iridescent twill nylon, while the La Paz jacket is designed to be a purposeful polar fleece. The jacket features utilitarian details like reflective strips on the shoulders, iridescent back nylon panels, and adjusters at the cuffs.

John ElliottThe core French Terry program, available in a washed brown and washed black, is lined in a tonal thermal and treated with a process that is meant to mimic natural fading from the sun with a soft vintage feel.

A new custom nylon development out of Japan is used in three colorways of the Himalayan Pant, a silhouette reminiscent of the brand’s best-selling cargo pant. With the tech and sheen of a nylon and the texture of a cotton poplin, the pant is designed with an adjuster on the inseam for a slightly more oversized or scrunched fit.

Straight hem shirting is seen in three plaid variations, all with different textures – wool, an alpaca blend, and also in cotton.

John ElliottThe brand’s core Cast 2 denim style, a slim denim with 2 percent stretch, is represented in light indigo, medium indigo, and washed black. While the Type III denim jacket is envisioned in one of the brand’s most iconic washes – Hanoi – first debuted in the “Running Through Vietnam” collection. All denim styles are made in Japan utilizing a dry process technique that uses minimal water.

John Elliott continues with four collaborations this season. First debuting during the John Elliott fall / winter 2018 show, the Nike M2K Tekno is updated here in three new colorways utilizing a mix of fabrics and textures in Sequoia, Grey, and Linen. The new M2K Teknos are available in December. The Thumper Jacket, another key silhouette for the brand, is reimagined in shearling in partnership with Japanese artisanal leather maker, Blackmeans. Wallet chains with serpent-like key rings, thick chain necklaces, and rings are made with Japanese jewelry label M.A.R.S. And, Suicoke and Blackmeans come together on sandals with custom hardware.

The pre-spring / summer 2019 collection is now available on www.johnelliott.co, with weekly product drops through December.

John Elliott