KTZ spring/summer 2018 collection catwalk show for LFWM

Anarchy met post-apocalyptic punk at KTZ’s spring/summer 2018 menswear collection. Contemporary streetwear was combined with urban utilitarianism: bomber jackets were emblazoned with military-esque badges and all-caps wording, perhaps suggesting something political but too obscure to process at first glance. This sense of strong intent and severity was juxtaposed by holey, raggedy sweaters of an almost spiderweb-like knit in black and khaki – the core colour scheme of choice.

A standout feature was the jagged stitches of metal – similar to barbed wire – strewn across seamlines like they were the very element that kept some pieces together. Seemingly obnoxious and deterring at first, they oddly translated to something more endearing and beautiful.

Heavy metal continued to weave its way through the collection. Chainmail trimmings – dripping from hemlines and dropping like a veil from the edge of baseball caps, or meshing to form a metallic T-shirt, made the wearer ready for post-medieval battle.

Meanwhile, flannel cravats and shirts in murky taupe were paired with sleeveless jackets, which likened the looks to the survival-driven characters of The Walking Dead.

The unforgettable urban edge continued to shine through in wearable staples like quilted utility jackets, yet the elements of metal, which were fundamental to the collection, protected the wearer from something… but also made them a formidable force to be reckoned with

Isobel Bridgwood
Photos: Kimberley Archer