The beauty of asymmetry, rooted in Japanese aesthetic

Understanding Japanese culture

Sakura

Here comes spring! After long gloomy weather, spring is finally here with us in Milano.
With some cherry blossoms, Milanese are having small aperitivo at the parks. I do love it.

In Japan, cherry blossoms are a national symbolic flower of the spring. We enjoy A LOT of cherry blossom viewing, called “hanami”, gathering together with family, friends, and colleagues under the trees. And we believe the best time for hanami is when the petals are fallen.

We also drink, but not as much fancy as the ones in Milano.

Japanese aesthetic


Japanese aesthetic

Wabi-Sabi

Wabi-Sabi is a traditional Japanese aesthetic worldview centred on the acceptance of imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It is usually found in nature.

Japanese people find the most beauty out of the fallen cherry blossoms, not the fully-blooming flowers. Why? Because the sakura’s fleeting and its fragile nature perfectly fits our Wabi-Sabi beauty.

The cherry blossoms last only a few weeks. If it rains and breezes, they only live for a couple of days. A very short life, but this imperfection is what is significant in our aesthetic culture.

Asymmetry

Rei Kawakubo, the founder of Comme des Garçons, often expresses her Wabi-Sabi aesthetic through her sense of design.
Many of her creative garments are unfinished and asymmetrical, which is the opposite of western standard beauty. She finds emptiness in her fashion and appreciates “absent” rather than “present”.

Today, we can find many pieces of asymmetrical garments. Asymmetry is not just cool, but it is somehow deep in itself. The style is undefined and neutral. It gives freedom of expression to anyone who wears it.

If you haven’t checked the oversized denim blouson by ZUCCa, please, take a look. We are always inviting you to enjoy asymmetric beauty as we appreciate it.

Because it is very unique.

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A piece written by Kotono Sakai – a Japanese girl studying history and fashion at Cattolica university in Milan and interning for suite123

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The Supima Cotton Pants

Perfection in design and quality

Today we introduce The Supima Cotton Pants – by Plantation, one of the most versatile items in our selection.

We tested this material a couple of seasons ago, and we were amazed by the pleasant feel on the skin, which you can understand only when you touch it. Also the design, which is a classic with an absolutely perfect fit! Indeed trousers with a perfect fit are hard to find. So both elements make this item really special. Moreover, those who had the chance to buy them were 100% satisfied, so we cannot miss them season after season.

The Supima Cotton Pants - Yellow
The Supima Cotton Pants – Yellow
by Plantation1982

Discover more about the Supima Pants

About the design
The cropped silhouette that falls straight makes it look neat without picking up the line of the foot. And the waist is fully elastic and comfortable to wear. Also, it also has a belt loop, making it easy to adjust the size around the waist. Two side slit pockets, and two patch pockets on the back.

About the material
98% cotton, 2% polyurethane. A high power, medium-thick stretch material made by weaving 100% Supima cotton with luxurious yarn, which gets combed and spun compactly. By taking the time and effort to finish it, it becomes a soft fabric with an elegant lustre like a silk blend.

The Supima Cotton Pants - White
The Supima Cotton Pants – White
by Plantation1982

About the colour
Available in two colours: off-white and yellow.
Yellow: it has a slightly bright tone that looks like a combination of beige and light yellow. It is a colour that makes you feel the spring mood.
Off-white: it blends well with bright spring and summer clothes. Also, it works well in combination with coloured tops.

Laundry
Hand washable, easy care.
You can wash this item by hand at home.

The Supima Cotton Pants are popular every season. Indeed, they make an outstanding performance regardless of the occasion or the item you’ll match.
A timeless and cool choice #formodernhumans

Drop us a message for any further info!

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The artisanal way

Possible, more than ever

Usually, behind a collection, there are massive production chains. But there is still fine handcrafted work which we are not used to anymore. Understanding the time and dedication involved in making it is a good exercise.

This week we received Marc Le Bihan‘s order. The delivery was late, but we quietly waited for our selection we made during the Spring/Summer selling campaign in Milano.

The process behind a collection

In short, based on their inspiration, designers put together the ideas, design them and transform them into samples. Then, they show the pieces to international retailers in Milano, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. They take the orders and then launch the production, which is a real struggle nowadays. All this takes a lot of time, attention, and care. And stress too.

Specifically, in Marc Le Bihan’s case, it’s a 100% artisanal production. So take the usual time, attention, care and stress and multiply it by 100.

Behind a collection - Marc Le Bihan


Now, add a pandemic that made the world stop. So production chains have been disrupted, and suppliers delivered raw materials late. This chain effect will impact the following seasons.
The pandemic is not over yet, and as if it wasn’t enough, add the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a war in Europe.
So take that dose of stress that we have just multiplied by 100 and double it down.

Perhaps this is the common denominator that connects everyone who runs an independent business. Corporations are affected too, but they play with money and they’ve got their basis covered. Also, they can find some easy loopholes.
But independent companies, independent brands are the brave ones. They are at the heart of the communities, and they represent the real sustainable choice.

Artisanal rarities

Among independent brands, you find an authentic rarity like Marc Le Bihan. A designer who made his consistency one of the highest values. Couture and limited productions of high-quality garments made with care, clothes made by hand in his workshop. It is artisanal work, and it takes time.

Understanding the time needed to make tailored clothes means understanding and appreciating their quality and higher value. Our expectations were high and 100% confirmed by the absolute beauty of the clothes we unpacked.

Since quality takes time, we waited for it with reverence. Soon we will describe the pieces, and you’ll discover another universe, which is still possible. Now, more than ever!

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Purchasing for the trashcan

The cycle of fashion trends

The cycle of fashion begins

Ever since the rise of fast fashion and fashion influencers, we have stepped into a social construction where having endless access to clothing and styles is associated with glamour and the elite lifestyle.
Styles from last week are being replaced by this week’s fashion. Shelves are clearing. And ‘clothing hauls’ are posted on social media platforms by the various fashion influencers who are associated with that brand.

Examining the lie

The unfortunate result, the viewers of these videos are blinded by the heaps of clothing. And therefore, cannot see that these influencers not only were paid to show the clothing. But the clothing was gifted to them for free.
The reality of purchasing a plentiful array of clothing every single week is less of an actuality and more of a cloak of an idealistic utopian fashion fantasy. A trick that has succeeded in blinding all consumers.
Celebrities and influencers are the medium to present this idea of life that is not rationally attainable. The everyday consumer is, then, pressured to put weekend shopping sprees on their credit card bill. Old fashion in the trash, and wounds on the environment.

The fear of outfit repeating in our elitist society

The conclusive fear of the everyday fashion enthusiast is that in order to be viewed by society as enough, or relevant, they must participate in this cycle of mass fashion waste. In order to never appear in public wearing the same item they wore the week before they must fall obedient to the social norm of endless options, overconsumption, and false realities.

Styling your truth goggles

Rather than succumbing to this false fashion reality, try to remember the root of the fashion concept. Remember that fashion isn’t an endless array of styles cycling through it’s tailoring various attire to your own body type, skin tone, hair colour, and personal preference. Fashion is having the ability and privilege to choose a unique and quality piece from a line-up, paying the price for quality, and keeping it in your wardrobe for your lifetime. Then finally, when you’re doing your spring cleaning, you come across that one blouse that made you feel so beautiful. Then you remember, I bought this blouse before my first interview. And this was the blouse that gave me the confidence to be proud of my work for the first time.

Fashion has the ability to induce feelings that you might not have been able to create on your own. Fashion is your uniform. And it’s what makes you remember who you are and what you are presenting to the rest of the world. And fashion is not a logo on a t-shirt proclaiming to the world that you can afford to buy a lie.


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A piece written by Gavriel Ewart. An American girl studying fashion and communication at Cattolica university in Milan and interning for suite123

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The Asymmetric Cotton Sweater

A new classic

Today we introduce a classic by ZUCCa: The Asymmetric Cotton Sweater.

The era of quantity is gone. Therefore, starting from this premise, the range of products doesn’t have to be wide. Buy less buy better is about common sense more than sustainability. So, we intentionally select only meaningful garments in which design and quality are the focus. Indeed each piece we pick out has specific characteristics that encapsulate wearability, durability, and versatility through their design.

Like every season, asymmetry is a style detail we cannot miss because this particular cut is modern and unusual. And also, it looks really good when you wear it. Since asymmetric garments are a staple for ZUCCa, we know we can find something really cool in their proposal.

Discover The Asymmetric Cotton Sweater

About the design
The sweater features a round neck and asymmetric hemline. Also, a robust seam along the front and side highlights the mix of the two different thicknesses of the same material. The seam details the shoulders too.
Ribbed neckline, cuffs and hem. The silhouette is slightly oversized and unisex.

The Asymmetric Cotton Sweater
The Asymmetric Cotton Sweater
by ZUCCa

About the material
100% cotton, non-glossy. It is made by knitting 100% soft cotton yarn into the high and middle gauge and docking it. The material has a thin thickness with a certain elasticity.

About the colour
Purple: a calming colour. A soft opaque hue that is refined and easy to wear. We’ll introduce another colour later, which is stronger.

Laundry
Hand washable, easy-care.
You can wash this item by hand at home.

This new season item is a versatile modern garment that offers multiple styling options. It’s easy to mix and match, from daywear and office style to free time outfits.
The Asymmetric Cotton Sweater is timeless, genderless and stylish.

Drop us an email or DM for any further info. We’d love to help!

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