For spring, Blaak took pre-washed, overdyed cottons and made them into crinkly shirtdresses and circle skirts with crazy animal prints and zigzagging, African-inspired patterns. Okada and Sharif even tackled that most formal of classics, the Chanel-inspired suit, fraying the edges and running zippers up the back of the skirt. (Close up, what looked like lightweight tweed turned out to be hand-perforated cotton, run through the washing machine several dozen times to give it a great, worn-out, messed-up feel.) Another standout was a red-and-white printed anorak, with elastic creating bunchy effects through the torso and sleeves; it turned out to be made of paper. Okada described this season’s look as “Random—borderline mad!” But the collection made perfect sense for seekers of cool, one-off pieces to amp up a summer wardrobe.
– Sarah Mower
LONDON, September 23, 2003 – Sachiko Okada and Aaron Sharif of Blaak make casual streetwear out of floppy, worn-in fabric. But what sets the line apart from a humdrum jeans collection is its deceptive simplicity—a lot of thought goes into creating that impression of easy, low-maintenance hipness.
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