In this month’s K! style column we’re celebrating 65 years of Dr. Martens, taking a look at Japanese Americana and finding our perfect festival fit.
Festival season is finally here, so we need to make sure our fits are looking good! But don't you worry, because I’ve got the latest in style news for us alt. kids this month – from boots to last a lifetime of muddy mosher fields to skeleton-print sling bags ready for your summer emo antics. Let's gooo!
First up, I’ve got the perfect black polo shirt for you from London-based streetwear brand Pawa. In fact, I think you're going to love their whole new collection.
Having just locked down Paris Fashion Week for their launch party with sneaker gods Asics, this is only Pawa's third drop, and they are channelling a new era in streetwear with their ‘Pawa boy’ character and his trusty doggo pal. It’s playful and gives a personality to a brand in a fun, innovative way. And who doesn’t love dogs?!
The collection takes strong influences from British football heritage as well as motorsports, so if you are into the footy aesthetic but don’t want to commit to a specific team, their ‘footy boy’ shirts could be the answer. Obviously we're all going to eat up the black colourway, and I can see it going with everything from cargos to skirts to even jorts!
I also love that their website has a 3D shop; it’s like stepping into the shopping metaverse and I didn’t even leave my living room. I’m upgrading my character's wardrobe at the same time as IRL shopping!
The 1460 Boot is a classic design that most of us have owned – my dad even sent me to school in mini versions as a kid because he felt air soles were the only sole to have! (The barefoot movement might have something to say about that now.) The boot was actually Dr. Martens' first ever product, made on April 1, 1960, hence the numerical moniker. And with this year marking the 65th anniversary of that trailblazing shoe, celebrate DMs are releasing their most premium iteration yet to celebrate – the 1460 MIE Pascal Love Letter boot. A big name for a big birthday!
With only 1460 pairs being made, and a cost of £460, this is a very limited release that's pretty much just for the hardcore collectors. The shoe is made by hand with luxury, full grain burgundy leather from a Leeds-based tanner, and produced in the brand's original factory in Wollaston, Northamptonshire. Back where it all began in 1960!
Premium touches include an debossed tongue with 1.4.60 (of course) antique gold eyelets, tonal laces, a leather embossed lace tag, and debossed leather heel loop. The deep burgundy leather is contrasted with standout white stitch detailing across the boot's upper with the signature yellow welt stitching around the sole. The white stitching itself is a reference to historical illustrations found in Dr. Martens' design archive, but isn’t an original feature.
I’m really happy to see Dr. Martens using their time to pay attention to details, producing items in England for limited runs. It makes a huge difference in today's world of non-stop re-releases, cash grabs and unoriginal collaborations. The shoes will last you forever, too, and if you do the maths on how many other pairs of boots you might buy every few years, the price does start to make sense.
I’ve just discovered Ark/8 – a lifestyle brand heavily influenced by gaming, sci-fi and all forms of entertainment, with an aesthetic that feels premium while simultaneously being grungy and casual. They create mens and womenswear with futuristic patterns and prints and contemporary silhouettes, and I feel like their designs would easily fit into a Bring Me The Horizon music video.
The brand has just released an official collaboration with Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6, which really leans into signature camouflage prints, urban landscapes, the vibrant colours of Zombie Mode and covert mission file graphics.
The collection features everything from heavily-printed outerwear pieces, long-sleeve mesh and oversized hoodies to T-shirts, caps and socks. Even if you aren’t a gamer, the designs are great, and would fit very nicely into your band shirt wardrobe. And there are some more stand-out pieces for those who really want to rep COD. Get on it quick before it sells out!
Have you heard of Japanese Americana fashion before? A fusion of traditional Japanese patchwork repair techniques like Boro and Sashiko with western American-infused influences (like sports and music) to create a unique streetwear aesthetic.
Kapital are clearly inspired by rock and emo culture with their use of graphic design styles, including skull and skeleton prints, which are a core feature throughout their collections. Stripes, denim, bucket hats, trucker caps, sling bags, patchwork prints and fun, playful graphics make this collection a seasonal favourite and something I can definitely see in the crowd of a Turnstile show. Edgy but fun and relaxed, just like their new single!
Garbstore London are one of the UK's few Kapital retailers and have collaborated on an SS25 editorial to showcase their best picks from the new collection. Standout pieces that I know you guys will love include the skeletal 14oz denim bag, the 20 jersey ringer tee, the denim laundry bucket hat and the nylon taffeta 2TONES Parka, because we all need a parka ready for festival season.
Yes, I know I’m telling you about autumn just as summer starts, but I need to put you guys onto this brand for summer fit inspo – trust me, their AW collection is something us baddies would wear all summer long.
During Fashion Week I’m always lusting over and trying to find the designers with an emo heart and catwalks full of goth, grunge goodies. One of my favourite LFW designers over the past few years has been Dreaming Eli, and this year's collection stood out more than ever to me. I saw our babes the Nova Twins rocking the collection at the show and it looked so badass on them, so of course I had to put you guys on!
CSM Graduate Elisa Trombatore founded the label Dreaming Eli in 2021, originally born from an ethereal princess aesthetic with a grunge edge, their upcoming collection takes inspiration from the depths of the human form, intangible subjects like chaos and passion, and literal flesh and bone.
Black, red and white are the main colour themes throughout this collection, comprising upcycled denim combined with delicate lace pieces and fine distressed knitwear, all with the use of sustainable materials.
Worn by K! faves Cassyette and Nova Twins and superstars like Julia Fox, Dreaming Eli is gonna be your new obsession.
