BED j.w. FORD invited us to the idyllic garden of Lycée Henri-IV during Paris Mens Fashionweek, unveiling the collection under the warm, radiant sun of a beautiful Paris day.
Designer Shinpei Yamagishi draws deep inspiration from the universal longing for rest and escape from the pressures of everyday life. His latest collection envisions the lives of workers, capturing not only their labor and perseverance but also the intimate human stories that drive them, rooted in responsibility, desire, and love. It honors the quiet strength found in daily routines while gently spotlighting the tender gestures that emerge through exhaustion: a bouquet of flowers or bottle of wine for a loved one, a piece of candy for a child. For Yamagishi, these small acts of care embody a quiet, profound joy, that reflects the resilience and grace of working. Infusing his personal perspective into every piece, Yamagishi builds the collection around a refined, understated aesthetic, one that speaks to us and which we love.
We appreciated how the accessories subtly reinforced the collection's theme, the used motifs hinted a quiet longing for rest, while leather tool bags embodied the effortless resilience of the worker and the tiny bells on the sleeves and blazers, suggesting the sound that signals the end of a workday. Standout pieces included the black and brown coats with buckled belts, undeniably powerful statement pieces, even for summer. We also loved the deep red checkered blazer and shorts, styled two ways: one paired with an oversized pink workwear jacket, the other coming with long trousers. The deconstructed knits added character to the looks through unexpected styling. Overall, the color palette, chic yet comfortable silhouettes, and use of light, airy fabrics makes this Men collection just as desirable for us women.
That worker, walking without hesitation amidst the swirl of people toward its
destination being in the evening or when the sky is the darkest, sometimes in
the rain. Everyday necessities in the pockets on the passage home is the same
as yesterday and same again tomorrow. The crisp shirt, worn-out throughout
time the day, the sleeves are crumpled and rolled up with the loosened tie.
The body screams of fatigue. Heart crying out yearning just to go home,
longing for good nights sleep and rest but at the same time moving forward
with determination. The worker already has found the energy to life. A tiny
courage and a little happiness to overcome the contradictions in the worker’s
dignified scenario leaving the tiredness in the heart behind for yesterday and
walking again to the same new day.
A longing for rest. An escape from the everyday hustle of life.
Shinpei
Yamagishi says that the starting point for BED j.w. FORD Spring/Summer
collection was these simple and plain notion that anyone has in mind. For
Yamagishi who sublimates the reality of his subjective view into BED j.w. FORD
collections, the realization of the 'reality itself' of the workers, its sweat
and presence was thought out during this designing process. The existence of
family, loved ones, and all those who work for their own. ambitions, wants,
happiness, protection, and dreams gave a bit of a constructive and a playful
touch to the designs.
The designer imagines everybody at work, from office workers to construction
crews to the caretakers of the houses people live in. returning home after a
long hard day’s work. "They go home same as usual", but in some instance,
unusuality, they buy flowers or a bottle of wine for their partner waiting for
at home, or buying a leuro candy, the daughters favorite. "Isn’t there a
life-size, exquisite happiness dwelling in these ordinary moments? When I
became aware of this, instantly I found an unmade, unparalleled beauty
harboring in the exhausted and deflated behind".
The ambience of the patterns for BED j.w. FORD Spring/Summer collection is
defined with the brand’s shape as a base and retaining the moment of 'the
worker’s' outfits. Shrunken sleeves fastened with straps and natural hems that
works with the flow synergies with the setups and the supple shirts, creating
a unique mix of chic austerity and unpretentiousness. More light-hearted than
ever, Yamagishi’s wit metaphors peoples state of mind, the light sound of the
bells that informs the days end of work, elliptical textiles that impose to
the viewers intuition, assorted belts with heavy buckles, three-dimensional
motif expressing the human soul longing for rest. One strutting with a perfect
posture and straight eyes, walks around busily with his leather tool bag and
the weedy shoes.
This nonchalant demeanor that the brand is oriented toward is the very essence
of the internal appeal of people feeling the fatigue.
For the designer who
says, "BED j.w. FORD Spring/Summer '25 collection is a praise and sympathy to
all the working people. Holding a love to life where miracles don’t occur,
life is a theater created by the workers. I myself would like to be a part of
this cast".
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