Raf Simons corduroy jeans from A/W 2004-2004 'Waves'. In brand new condition with tags. Made in Belgium. RRP: ¥36750 (£241)
Simons offered a series of reissues of classic designs from the late 1990s as part of his A/W 2004 'Waves' collection. These jeans are a classic Raf silhouette that appeared in several of his late '90s collections, but this specific version was one of the signature items of A/W 2003 'Closer', inspired by British Mod and post-punk styles. The notes of Antwerp's MoMu Fashion Museum explain:
'This season, Raf Simons was granted full access to the archives of Peter Saville. Raf Simons made a personal selection of Saville-designed works (some of them previously unseen) to integrate them into his collection. As a long-time admirer of Peter Saville, Raf Simons considers this a great honour, and therefore dedicates his collection to the man who put an unique spin on music culture. The collection itself focuses on traditional styles and fabrics, augmented by a mod influence. Linked to the aesthetics of Peter Saville, there are also touches of early Russian Constructivism, Bauhaus and vintage British looks. At the same time, the collection reflects on the process of growing up and (re)considering adulthood, citing references to childhood dress codes, formal business looks and ghetto rebellion.'
Channeling the collection's vintage British atmosphere, Simons has used thick corduroy in a deep dark navy instead of denim for these jeans. Their classic detailing gives prominence to the exaggerated silhouette, consisting of a very fitted seat and thighs, with an extra long bootcut leg that gives the jeans a striking architectural shape. Furthermore, Simons has created a branded patch inspired by traditional American denim. Crafted from the same compact cardboard material as mid-century Levi's jeans, the waistband patch reads 'Raf Simons', 'Selected denim', 'Made in Belgium' and 'Care instructions inside garment'. The result is a playfully anachronistic detail that beautifully captures Simons's intention to create his unique personal take on a heritage classic.
The construction of the jeans echoes this sentiment, featuring a classic 5-pocket arrangement with antique metal rivets reinforcing the edges of the pockets. The zip fly is finished with a beautiful laurel wreath button, similar to the antique hardware seen on WWII worker garments. On the interior, the pockets are lined in smooth brown cotton like traditional tailored trousers.
Combining a classic design with a striking silhouette, these jeans are an exceptionally rare find. Their iconic detailing can only be seen in Raf Simons garments from 2003 and 2004, and they remain in brand new condition despite their age. Strongly recommended.
