"Bernhard Willhelms style can be hard to describe on paper, but the people who get it come back for more season after season.
This season, the designer brought messages to his signature kimonos and T-shirts that included owls (wisdom, intelligence); wizards; leaping panthers; “sexy men”; and ominous phrases like This is all very dangerous, which is the title of this collection, as well.
In the early hours of the morning back in Los Angeles, where he’s been living for the past three years, Willhelm spoke of his affection for martial arts, Zen Buddhism, and the interconnectedness of things. That his clothes are produced in Japan has something to do with that line of thought. So does his life in L.A., where the designer feels he can take more time.
“The spiritual element of the collection is speaking about wisdom and seeing in the night (the owl), and the panther is about breakthrough, which is a popular Chinese symbol,” he pointed out. “I didn’t want to be new-new; I wanted to sort of create a Zen uniform. I’m very interested in creating with constants. It’s a little bit like going back to school. What I need now is a calming feeling.” God knows he’s not alone in that."
- Tina Isaac-Goize, Vogue (READ THE FULL ARTICLEHERE)
FIND Bernhard Willhelm AW 17/18 for men & women instore now at ZAMBESI BRITOMART, ZAMBESI wellington, & ZAMBESI melbourne.
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view past collections of Bernhard Willhelm online here.