PHIPPS Reconsiders Americana with “Spirit of Freedom” SS21 Collection
Brand: PHIPPS
Season: Spring/Summer 2021
Key Pieces: The denim/graphic tee ensemble is slide #1 hits all the right notes of vintage styling – but made applicable for 2020.
Release Date: 2021
Buy: SSENSE
Editor’s Notes: Spencer Phipps’ SS21 collection for his eponymous label reinterprets some classic codes of Americana fashion staples through a refined and tongue-in-cheek lens.
Flags of the United States have been printed as graphic tees with text such as “This Land Is Your Land” printed underneath – a line from a Woody Guthrie song once hailed as the communist alternative to “God Bless America.”
Other American tropes such as varsity jackets, cowboy shirts, denim jeans, and jerseys are updated with messages like “CONSCIOUSNESS EXPANSION” and are, as per the PHIPPS brand manifesto, made with ethically-sourced, sustainable fabrics and relaxed, mid-volume fits for comfort.
More formal pieces include jacquard ensembles, printed neckties, checked tailoring, and 1/2 breasted blazers which are inspired by Western ceremonial dress. The satirical elements from the “Spirit of Freedom” collection were also distilled into a trailer for an accompanying feature film below, directed by Molly Ledoux.
