AW03 was a masterpiece in showcasing a visually charged rendition of a variety of influences with the unifying tailoring and craftsmanship associated with the designs. This season evolved his pioneering military inspirations into overt homages to items like aviator pressure suits complete with corset-lacing and safety belt style harnesses reframed as bondage in his avant-garde world of razor-sharp tailoring and sexually charged refinement.
Despite the ambitious and saturated visuals, the entire collection maintains a complete cohesiveness only Helmut Lang could achieve, striking a perfect balance with the clean minimalism he's known for. This collection paved the way for contemporary fashion. With iconic items from AW03 being referred to in museums and design studios, its influence and relevance reaches far even today.
It's undeniable how much Helmut Lang's last few years established the momentum for fashion after his departure. The iconic Autumn/Winter 2003 bondage MA-1 bomber is an amazing example of his influence, shaping motifs and fits prevalent for more than 15 years after, even being revisited repeatedly by post-Lang Lang, but the razor sharp tailoring and carefully considered materials remains unmatched. Compared to the Re-Edition, this cotton showcases the padding much more naturally with a better drape and a much smoother luxurious hand-feel.
This iteration is a beautiful midnight colorway. The luxurious cotton bomber is lightly padded and lined with a plush cotton fleece, finished with cupro sleeves and a beautiful elastic cuff adorned with removable bondage hand straps. This version with the back details is one of the rarest and in our opinion, best bomber jackets.
