1998 'HMD 414' Curved Hem T-Shirt

IT 48: Best for an IT 46 - 36 Chest - S or a slim IT 48 - 38 Chest - S/M.

Raf Simons top from A/W 1998-1999 'Radioactivity'. In excellent used condition. Made in Belgium.

Over the past few seasons, the importance of Raf Simons's visionary work has been increasingly acknowledged by fans and critics alike. Consequently, more and more people are rediscovering Simons' strongest collections to date, from the 90s to the mid 00s. The conceptualism, design and execution of the garments from Simons' first decade demonstrate his competence as a truly experimental designer, while making most of his contemporary collections pale in comparison. Music has always been a source of inspiration for Simons, and every season his affinity for contemporary musicians is manifested in different and unexpected ways. 'Radioactivity' is one of the designer's most iconic collections, inspired by German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk. Razor-sharp outerwear was paired with dishevelled knits and aggressive prints to create a radical and aesthetically severe look. 

This top features one of the collection's signature visual materials, a semi-abstract monochrome print of a young man wearing a Sennheiser HMD 414 headset. Florian Schneider-Esleben of Kraftwerk famously used this equipment in the band's renown 1981 Computer World tour. The back of the t-shirt depicts a side view of the subject.

The cut of the t-shirt is tight with narrow: Like many tops from Raf Simons's 90s collections, the proportions are short for a sharp waist-length silhouette with a shirt-like curved hem that is slightly shorter on the front. The neck has a wide crew shape, while the slim sleeves reach the elbows. The punk-inspired cut is complemented by a soft cotton fabric with a smooth texture and generous stretch. The neckline and sleeves are finished with self-fabric binding.

This timelessly directional piece is part of a somewhat obscure chapter in Raf Simons's brilliant history. Its sharp cut and statement print are guaranteed to make a strong visual impact.