Courtesy of Gerrit Jacob
Gerrit Jacob is the latest designer to return back to his home to Germany to launch his own namesake label after working for brands like Martine Rose, Yeezy, Balenciaga and Gucci. The now Berlin-based, Central Saint Martins graduate whose debut collection “A Secret Between Us” explored themes of class-based identity and German kitsch, releases a new collection “Raised by Wolves.”
Courtesy of Gerrit Jacob
“Raised by Wolves” reflects themes around teenage disenchantment and the tormenting process of growing up. Inspired by Jim Goldberg’s documentation with the same title, which shows the naked truth of youths and children fending for themselves on the street, Jacob challenges the derogatory term “Raised by Wolves“ with his collection. His signature airbrushed style captures the bittersweet mix of kitsch German working class aesthetics and roughness while ill-fitting and oversized silhouettes symbolise the awkwardness of adolescence.
Courtesy of Gerrit Jacob
Relating to his own coming of age phase, Jacob incorporates his feelings of being misplaced with vivid memories of attending the Hamburg funfair in the collection, resulting in a neon and distorted fun chaos combined with symbolic animal prints. Having used primarily leather for colourful airbrushing techniques in the past, this collection also includes lustrous Japanese satin, denim and jersey, where the airbrushed effect is replicated through digital and screen printing. With a broader selection of materials, the designer still maintained his approach to sustainability by only using dead stock leather. Both denim and jersey are GOTS certified, while the satin is made of FSC certified viscose, setting a statement to caring for a brighter future after suffering with the burden of growing up in the past.
Courtesy of Gerrit Jacob