A piece from what is perhaps Raf's most currently admired collection, and definitely one of his most fascinating. Raf Simons' AW02 "Virginia Creeper" collection was fluid with themes of decay, man's war with nature, the natural itself and Americana. All of which are immediately apparent in this garment. The chest print on the front torso features block letters reminiscent of American college campus hoodies or varsity jackets, the letters are adorned with roots growing out of them and supported by the large tree roots messily printed on the back. The acid-treated cotton torn and ripped appearing as if it has been eaten away at by insects. A noteworthy fact about these garments from AW02 - a lot of them were sold in a pristine state and begin to "rot" along the seams and hems like this with wear. This seems, to me, to represent not only the themes of decay and the natural but also man's inability to sustain his battle against the natural order, that his resistance of the natural order is ultimately futile. A dive deeper into the collection finds that "Virginia Creeper" featured lots of synthetic, unnatural and unperishable materials like PVC, other plastics and nylon; further highlighting this notion of man attempting to outlast the living world. The rotting fabric also provides the wearer with a sense of authenticity and personal history, each owner it may have embeds a part of themselves in the garment as it lives on.
Structurally, this is a great hoodie. The hood drapes beautifully when not in use and sits low over the brow when in use. Slightly dropped shoulders give it a loose but well-sized fit, the cotton is thick and soft.
All in all, a tremendous piece.
Made in Belgium.
Condition is difficult to gauge but there are no stains or unintentional damages. 8-9/10 as it shows some signs of wear.
