Been wondering where designer Stefano Pilati has been? Yeah, us too. After leaving his post as head designer at Yves Saint Laurent in 2012 (he had been at the French fashion house since 2004), Pilati took up the role of head of design at Ermenegildo Zegna and Agnona until 2016. Since then, he’s been kind of M.I.A.
Though he’s kept a low profile since leaving Zegna, rumors of a new “genderless and seasonless” collection started spreading when Pilati debuted a series of 17 all-black looks on his Instagram page back in mid-2017. Dubbed “Random Identities,” the collection came to fruition Wednesday evening, when it was presented at retailer SSENSE’s headquarters in Montreal.
“An honest statement is necessary: Fashion at high prices no longer means exclusivity,” Pilati said in a press release. “My response is to produce moderately priced clothes — ‘the low’ — and present them in a high fashion context, creating limited-edition items which by quality of design will justify the proposal— ‘the high.’ ”
The collection, classified by the designer as “protective wear,” was an ode to nylon and wool and consisted of trench coats and bomber jackets, high-waisted trousers, and white shirts. Inspired by utility wear, the limited-edition collection is relatively accessible compared to Pilati’s previous work – a corset belt is just $90.
The capsule is available now exclusively at SSENSE.com and Dover Street Market.