Amsterdam-based Daily Paper was founded as a love letter to its founder’s love for music, art and culture, quickly progressing into a force to be reckoned with in the fashion sphere as they expanded from blog into multi-faceted brand, fueled by a rich heritage of African culture in contemporary designs. From releasing collections celebrating the history of bike culture in the Caribbean to opening a skate park in Ghana last month, the brand has been involved in a whole host of activities and releases since its conception.
Now, they’re back with a lookbook and drop for SS22, bringing us some much-needed sunshine, and an ode to Hip Hop’s influence on the brand and community. With a nod to the Hip Hop era from the 70s, 80s and 90s, Daily Paper revisits classic, nostalgic silhouettes, updating them with contemporary design motifs. As well as revisiting classics, the brand also included an array of signature silhouettes, which have been given a colour or seasonal update. These include trenches, bombers and tracksuits, appearing in earthy browns, beiges and greys with pops of brighter colours (mints, yellows and pinks) warming up the collection.
The collection’s Hip Hop inspiration can be traced in an oversized all-over monogram sweat suit, which is produced in towelling fabric, as well as a denim dungaree. Elsewhere, bold patterns, classic tank tops, luxurious tracksuits, and colourful bandana prints and bucket hats pull the collection together under the same aesthetic thread.
Speaking on his choice to look to the nostalgia-driven visual references of Hip Hop for this collection, Abderrahmane Trabsini (the brand’s Co-Founder and Design Director) said that “Hip Hop has always been, and still is, a big inspiration to us. The influence of Hip Hop and its community had a significant impact on how Daily Paper came to life. First through telling stories around street culture on our blog which later evolved to become the fashion brand we are today.”
A core pillar of the Daily Paper brand is about representing and championing the African Diaspora – and this collection is no different. The red, black and green colourways from the Pan-African flag – symbolising liberation and unity of the African Diaspora – has been reinterpreted and incorporated in the design of a silky halter neck slip dress and a satin tracksuit. The same design is translated into a light grey-and-white colourway onto a trenchcoat, a light-weight cotton workwear set and an athletic top and bike shorts.
Daily Paper is for the girls too – this season sees the brand work in asymmetrical cuts, as well as a line of wrap tops and miniskirts. We see the towelling fabric make an appearance here too, alongside silk dresses and cut-out tops. In terms of accessories, this drop provides the bag. A red monogram bag, to be precise – as well as a raw denim and branded buckle offering.
Covering all bases, the collection and lookbook is rounded out with a selection of tailored fits. We see a pinstripe suit match a blazer and skirt set, in addition to a traditional-meets-contemporary style djellaba. The pinstripes are shaped in an African cowrie shell design alongside a phrase that reads ‘Educate to Liberate’; a phrase worked into the design to acknowledge Hip Hop as a medium for expression and change.
Shop the collection at their website from January 14 2022.
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