1998 Cotton-blend Mesh Slim T-Shirt

Size M: Best for any size between a large IT 44 - 34 Chest - XS and a slim IT 48 - 38 Chest - S/M. 

Helmut Lang mesh top from S/S 1998. In excellent used condition. Made in Japan.

Although this T-shirt appeared prominently in Helmut Lang's S/S 1998 menswear collection, it is part of a separate product line manufactured by Japanese company Gunze under licence. Primarily consisting of men's basics and underwear, the line was manufactured and distributed exclusively for the Japanese market. Like many of the clothes found in Lang's mainline, superficial ornamentation was rejected in favour of well-considered proportions and high quality fabrics that combined luxury with everyday utility. 

The T-shirt is crafted from crisp 70% cotton/30% polyester in a fine honeycomb mesh knit. The open pattern's hexagonal shapes create a see-through effect that subtly reveals the body, while the dark olive drab colour evokes military uniforms and Lang's persistent interest for clubwear. Similar styles appeared in Helmut Lang runways from the early 1990s until the label's demise (pictured: S/S 1998 and 1995).

The T-shirt's visually striking fabrication is strongly complemented by its sharp slim cut, featuring side seams that follow the contours of the body, a beautifully proportioned crew neck and narrow short sleeves. The neckline and cuffs are finished with ribbed knit binding that reinorces the structure of the top will creating subtle contrast. The attention to detail of the construction is evident in the top's clean lines, as well as the position of the fabric contents label on the waistline to ensure it is not visible when the piece of is worn.

With its precise silhouette and military undertones, this piece encapsulates the subtle transgressions that defined Lang's menswear in the 1990s. Strongly reccomended.