Topman just got a new look courtesy of their capsule collection from Danish designer Astrid Anderson. The collection consist of 17 luxe streetwear inspired pieces. True to Anderson’s nature, the silhouettes are oversized paired with bold logo and designs. New York rapper A$AP Ferg is seen here rocking the collection which will hit stores on June 12. For purchase info click HERE. Check out what the designer had to say to Complex magazine regarding this exciting new venture down below.
How did the collaboration come about between you and Topman?
Topman has been supporting me through sponsorships in London, from NEWGEN all the way to Fashion East. For the past six seasons they’ve supported me, so this happened pretty naturally. I was really grateful when they approached me with the project.
Was today the first time you worked with A$AP Ferg?
Yeah.
What was it like?
[Laughs] It was amazing! I’m really blown away by him. The energy he brings is something you can’t really expect people to bring and then when they do it’s like, “Wow.” Seeing your clothes in that context is such a rare experience.
It was a very natural interaction between you two. He clearly gravitated to the clothes.
He looked comfortable enough to do his thing and that’s what I want more than anything.
That says a lot. You get this guy in the collection, who looks amazing in it, and then, of course, the customers are going to gravitate towards it as well.
Yeah, I think it’s going to be a strong message. Sometimes, you get an artist or a supermodel for a campaign and you think, “But, that didn’t really make sense.” With this collection it’s believable. I’m sure he’s going to wear all of that.
Let’s talk about the specific pieces. Why did you chose these silhouettes, over others?
A challenge for me was knowing that you’re working within a certain framework. When I create my own shapes we have a different approach because of how our production works. It was also clear from the beginning that these had to be easier pieces to produce to get the top result. My key pieces are the oversized T-shirt, the basketball tank, the basketball shorts, and tracksuits. There’s no reason within this project to really go beyond that. I felt if we did something like a close, intricate bomber jacket the chances of it coming out looking how we wanted it, probably wouldn’t meet the standards that Topman and I both held.
There were some details on some outerwear pieces, like the zip-off pockets, that are usually hard to pull off and still look good without looking cheap.
The zippers are a big part of my aesthetic as well. I’ve never done the copper versions, so I felt like that was a really good way to bring in an element that I wouldn’t do in my own work. I would never do anything that wasn’t functional. I wouldn’t include a zip if it wasn’t functional.
Is your mission “sport-function?”
Well, it’s not meant to be performance wear. But, menswear without function for me is just pointless. For example, trousers without pockets—I would never do that for a man because I want him to be able to travel and carry his essentials.
What kind of guy do you design for?
[Laughs] It’s very specific. It’s not about always being the flashiest guy. It’s about confidence.
Credit: Complex
