Three sizes available: - Size S (women's): Best for anIT 44 - 34 Chest - XS. Can also be worn by women sized between UK 10/US 6 andUK 6/US 2. - Size M (women's): Best for an IT 46 - 36 Chest - S. Can also be worn by women sized between UK 12/US 8 andUK 8/US 4. - Size S (men's): Best for an IT 48 - 38 Chest - S/M or anIT 46 - 36 Chest - S. Can also be worn oversize by women.
Helmut Lang website-print T-shirt from A/W 1998-1999. In excellent used condition. Made in Italy.
'Such was the excitement surrounding Lang's arrival in New York that there could be no possible resistance to this message on the runway. Nevertheless, the idea of appearing in the New York celebrity spotlight made him balk. As anticipation escalated, he canceled his show on March 31 and threw fashion editors into an uproar by posting his collection on the Internet instead. "I felt the whole focus on what we were doing was building up to a major event, and suddenly it was an issue for me," Lang says. "I'd been thinking about using the Internet for a long time, so it just seemed the moment to do it. It also felt right to keep contact with Europe, because it was the first season we didn't do a show in Paris. We could be global, everyone could see the clothes at the same time. It's democratic." [...] The experiment was a deliberate challenge to the voracious norms of the fashion system, a typical Helmut Lang bid to seize control of his own output and image.' - Helmut Lang feature, Harper's Bazaar September 1998
1998 was a very important year for Helmut Lang. The company relocated its offices from Vienna to Manhattan, making it the first fashion house to change continent, while the runway presentations move from Paris to New York. Later that year, the helmutlang.com website was launched and A/W 1998-1999 was the first fashion collection to be presented online. Besides these influential firsts, A/W 1998-1999 is seen as one of Lang's seminal collections, showcasing the first major exploration of the abstract and layered streetwear that became synonymous with his late 90s output. The main source of inspiration was contemporary military uniforms, which had been a recurrent theme in Lang's designs since the decade's beginnings. Still, unlike previous seasons where the appropriation of military forms was straightforward and clear-cut, A/W 1998-1999 showcased a variety of unique garments whose aesthetic, detailing and execution were characteristically Lang.
In his typically subtle manner, Lang created this piece to introduce his new website address. Like his iconic backstage tops, the decoration is located on the upper back rather than the front. It consists of a bold HELMUTLANG print in a beige-coloured condensed typeface, accompanied by smaller-sized 'www' and 'com' elements above and below it. The simplicity and ambiguity of the design demonstrates the effortless sophistication that characterises much of Lang's output. This attitude has undoubtedly inspired a new wave of designers with an affinity for typography, such as Demna Gvasalia of VETEMENTS.
The piece is crafted from luxurious cotton jersey with a mercerised treatment. The finely knit material has a deep colour and a beautifully lustrous surface. Furthermore, its high thread count results in a pleasantly rich and smooth texture while ensuring that it will maintain its softness for longer. The silhouette is fitted with side seams that spiral slightly towards the right to enhance the top's drape when it is worn. The medium crew neckline is finished with self-fabric binding.
A rare find from a defining moment in Lang's venerated career, this piece combines a streamlined aestheticwith an interesting narrative that is now part of contemporary fashion history. Strongly recommended.
