Men’s Fall/Winter 2022 fashion week is currently underway. Following showcases by the likes of UNDERCOVER and COMME des GARÇONS Homme Plus, we now take a look at what Junya Watanabe has in store for the season.
The Japanese designer teamed up with Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay for the the FW22 collection, bringing the singer’s unique and funky style into the mix. Jay Kay’s music and style has often drawn inspiration from various indigenous cultures of the world, with the name Jamiroquai itself a portmanteau of ‘jam session’ and ‘Iroquois,’ a Native American tribe.
Mexican and Native American blanket patterns are patchworked onto various pieces, which some may see as appropriation, though Watanabe invited The Secretariat of Culture of Mexico as well as Pendleton Woolen Mills to help realize the collection in a respectful manner. Other collaborators include Levi’s and Carhartt, both brands’ workwear denims integrated into the backsides of the trench coats. Pieces created with outdoor brand Karrimor are also featured.
In true Jay Kay fashion, big fuzzy hats were also on display, created by London-based milliner Benny Andallo. On the footwear side, we see various low-top sneaker collaborations with New Balance, as well as slip-ons created in collaboration with Stepney Works Club.
Instead of a typical runway show, the Junya Watanabe MAN Fall/Winter 2022 collection was presented with a recreation of Jamiroquai’s iconic “Virtual Insanity” music video. Check it out above, as well as the complete lookbook below. You’ll be able to shop pieces from the collection this Fall/Winter at select retailers such as SSENSE and Dover Street Market.
