Matthew M. Williams, the creative director of 1017 Alyx 9SM, has once again taken the fashion world by storm with his latest collections for the Fall/Winter 2023 season. The collections were showcased at Men’s Fashion Week in Milan, with a teaser of what was to come and the rest at the tail end of Paris Fashion Week. And what was to come did not disappoint.
One of the standout pieces from the collection was a big curly coat, adorned with spike-studded leather elbow patches. This coat was not for the faint-hearted, as it was a bold and daring statement piece that exuded confidence and power. The collection also featured spangled silver shorts and a fierce black jersey gown suspended from a spiky collar, further cementing the idea that this collection was not for the faint-hearted.
But it wasn’t just the clothing that made a statement. The collection also saw the launch of two new bags, the Payton and Raya Bag. The Payton, a unisex bag, came in plain, textured, and hand-painted leather, while the Raya bag was specifically designed for women and came in a range of vegan-leather options. Both bags featured newly developed Alyx hardware and were available in a range of colors and materials.
The Mark Flood collaboration was also a highlight of the collection. Several pieces featured a selection of his iconic works, while others showcased graphics developed specifically for the collection. The collection featured a range of hoodies, pants, and t-shirts that had undergone dying, washing, printing, and burning before being meticulously hand distressed by Italian artisans. Other pieces featured proprietary distressing techniques that created randomized small areas of distressing in the garment, revealing the layers underneath.
The collection also saw the introduction of a new chunky sole that was integrated into all shoes featured in the collection. This highly graphic sole was developed using the know-how acquired during the development of the Mono range, creating a thick statement sole that was visually impactful yet incredibly lightweight. The signature sole was then mounted upon a range of textured leather uppers, in a mid-boot shape, recalling an exaggerated biker boot and was featured in all men’s looks of the collection.
1017 Alyx 9SM has always had an intense focus on material and fabric development, with a desire to merge the technical cutting edge with traditional artisanal know-how. The Fall/Winter 2023 collection was no exception, as it showcased new examples of this desire to push the limits. The collection featured stud detailing that had been hand-applied by Italian artisans on a range of pieces from bandanas to boots, as well as classic tailoring pieces.
