“There’s a burgundy one too,” says Joseph Abboud creative director Bernardo Rojo, talking about the green pony hair moto jacket that everyone in the room seemed to be marveling over, “It is my first collection with the material.” Since Joseph Abboud showed Fall 2013 at Pitti in Italy—along with his new, higher priced point, Red Label—last night in New York we were treated to a more intimate affair in his showroom. Executed on mannequins and hangars, we had the chance to feel the quality of the fabric and see up close the detail of each piece. Good thing since for Red Label, Rojo partnered with one of the top Italian manufacturing companies, Cipriani SPA, and found a new level of freedom. “I got to play with all of these new fabrics that we can’t use for the regular line because of price.” So. The emphasis was on the here-and-now technical, and the vibe was mid-sixties jet-setter—a matte rubberized overcoat snapped away at just below the waist and lightweight leather bags that felt like neoprene to the touch. And of course, Abboud’s take on classic American, here reformatted for the internet age—ribbed collar flight jackets, heavy gage cable knit pullovers and the rounded shades. Rojo smiles when he talks about encouraging his American fans to experiment with clothing, wear a new fabric, try a different style or an unusual texture. “People say American design doesn’t change. American’s have a lot of style, it was just forgotten. We want to help it grow.” See just how, after the jump.
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Related: Joseph Abboud Spring 2013
