According to WOOD WOOD, heaven is a place on earth where attendees wear 90s streetwear inspired clothing and only listen to experimental techno beats. For its FW23 collection, the Danish brand’s founders Karl-Oskar Olsen and Brian SS Jensen chose to look back at the root of the brand – an affinity and close relationship to 90s youth cultures, taking elements from graffiti, skate and rave movements.
Wood Wood welcomed its guests into an almost blank space for the showing of its latest collection titled “Heaven Out There”, closing show day 2 of Copenhagen Fashion Week. Only one thing stood out – a massive central panelled room which the models walked in and out of. The translucent windows, pouring out with white light, gave the guests a taste of heaven without revealing all its secrets, as models were seen throughout the show to be walking and dancing inside the heavenly room.
Over the years, we have seen WOOD WOOD’s inspiration span from natural elements to innate human emotions, one thing has always tied the brand’s collections together: youth subcultures. Indeed, this season’s looks went full on 90s kids, as models were seen in retro oval glasses, ripped trucker hats and stained jeans that look like they’ve taken straight out of a skater’s wardrobe. Other standout pieces include a teddy bear-inspired balaclava, a floor-length puffer coat with exaggerated shoulders and a matching two-piece green and white striped tracksuit.
A big inspiration for WOOD WOOD’s previous collection was workwear, an element of design which was found again this season in the shape of matching black top and trousers with ample zippers and pockets. Though, one of the biggest takeaways this season was Wood Wood’s use of prints. Blurry photographs of golden-toned faces, possibly having been taken in a club or rave, were printed onto a black t-shirt and dress, while a long denim coat and jeans were dyed in a rippling array of dark and bright greens, reminiscent of graffiti painting.
Wood Wood’s FW23 collection wouldn’t be complete without an innovative collaboration. This time around, the Danish brand has teamed up with French mountain sneaker brand Salomon to create an exclusive silhouette. Offered in two colourways, “Biking Red” and “Nightshade”, the earthy-toned shoes pay homage to the brand’s mountaineering heritage, and will be available for immediate purchase exclusively at WOOD WOOD stores on February 6.
“Heaven Out There” – a statement “that wouldn’t go amiss on an old-school rave flier” – saw the Scandinavian brand return to its roots and truly hone in on a culture of youthful raving kids. Offering an array of grungy clothing mixed in with smarter yet still street-inspired clothing, Wood Wood considers perhaps the true definition of heaven on Earth – the gathering of many for a common cause, forming an organic community with deep roots.
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