How Chairs Inspired John Lawrence Sullivan
When it comes to furniture nothing quite captures the imagination like the humble chair. Even the novice interior designer knows that chairs have taken many forms from the practical to the inventive, the minimalist to the ridiculous. It’s the beauty of chairs stacked together that informed designer Arashi Yanagawa’s A/W 24 collection for John Lawrence Sullivan. Well, that and the captivating work of German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and conceptual artist Donald Judd.
Appropriately dubbed 'Stacks,' Yanagawa’s latest offering of men's and womenswear riffs on the brand’s existing wardrobe with details that will have you seeing double. The collection is rooted in a layered effect that sees shirts with double collars and suit trousers with three waistbands. With its greyscale colour palette, the innovative styling trick subverts our expectations of everyday wardrobe staples. Evoking the trend du jour of ‘office-core,’ the suited-up silhouette seamlessly marries sophistication with a touch of avant-garde flair.
As for the van der Rohe inspiration, this is evident in the accessories and womenswear. Cantilevered jewellery mimics the sleek curved lines of the famous ‘MR chair’, while the velvet curtains of Cafe Samt & Seide (literally Velvet and Silk Cafe) are reimagined as dresses and skirts. It’s an apt reference considering the Berlin-based space was designed by van der Rohe and his then partner the architect and designer Lilly Reich.
The other chairs that inspired Yanagawa include Arne Jacobsen’s 1952 ‘Ant Chair’ as three-legged heels. The belts seen throughout the collection are reminiscent of the famous ‘Wassily Chair’ by Bauhaus pioneer Marcel Breuer, while Charlotte Perriand’s ‘Les Arcs Chair’ is mirrored in leather accessories.
Captivated by Mies van der Rohe's architectural finesse and Judd's stacked art, the collection seamlessly integrates the ‘stacking’ technique into a captivating collection of wardrobe staples. The juxtaposition of functional utility and linear beauty is boldly showcased in double-layered bomber jackets, collared jackets, hoodies, and shirts featuring double collars and ties. So, while John Lawrence Sullivan is named after the 20th-century American boxer, we aren’t complaining he looked to chair design for his latest collection.
