Ivy League style and British tailoring and a touch of Leonard Cohen: Zalando's ‘Gant Remake’ collab has it all. We talk to the trio of forces behind it – Gant's creative director Christopher Bastin, High Snobiety's founder David Fischer and Zalando's Fabio Baum – to find out more
Gant has released a new capsule via Zalando together with Highsnobiety – and it's sitting firmly on this season's menswear hit list.
Dreamed up by Gants's creative director Christopher Bastin together with Highsnobiety's founder David Fischer, the 'Gant Remake' line-up delves into the Swedish brand's to reinterpret – and literally recycle – its old-school, preppy ‘campus classics’.
“It was an effortless first meeting,” starts Bastin. “We just rummaged through old Gant pieces, talking about what we liked, what icons we could recreate and so on. We kinda both cut our teeth during the same menswear era so we have a lot of common references.”
Paying homage to Gant’s Yale origins, the capsule of varsity jackets, wind-cheaters, rugby tops and Oxford shirts sports a '90s fit with a modern twist owing to Fischer’s command of high fashion street style.
Photo: Gant Remake
Photo: Gant Remake
“It’s an exciting opportunity to bring fresh perspectives to classic designs,” says Fischer of the capsule. “We aimed to reimagine classic Gant garments, but incorporate urban style, functionality and more sustainable elements.” It’s a merging of two movements – solidifying both second-hand and vintage sport style’s positionss in streetwear.
“It feels like the future of American sportswear, which also happens to be Gant’s motto,” reflects Bastin. “The pieces clearly stay true to our preppy background, but with a ‘streetwear friendly’ silhouette.” With the reappearance of outdoor-wear in street style, Bastin spotted the opportunity for Gant to venture further into the naturally diminishing space between the two trends.
Photo: Gant Remake
Not to mention, the move aligns with both Gant’s past and future. “I think the resurgence of vintage workwear and outdoors has brought a fresh breath of air into it all,” he reflects. “And for Gant, being born and raised on an Ivy League campus, it’s actually not that hard. American Sportswear is informed by all these things - it’s part outdoors, it’s part utility and workwear, it’s part western Americana. And partly Ivy League, partly British tailoring.”
It’s part outdoors, it’s part utility and workwear, it’s part western Americana. And partly Ivy League, partly British tailoring.
Christopher Bastin, Gant creative director
The pieces, exclusively available with Zalando, are crafted entirely of fabrics recycled from earlier Gant collections. “When you’re constrained to certain fabrics, they become the only tools in the toolbox. You can’t really add on stuff like buy a different fabric for lining, or order new buttons,” explains Bastin.
“I think the design team did a very good job creating something that feels very here and now based on the limited things they had to work with. The silhouettes are on point and the icons are all covered. And I think that challenge itself was the best inspiration.”
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Photo: Gant Remake
“With David (Fischer) being from Germany and us being from New Haven, that kind of sparked the idea of riffing off of the old Leonard Cohen song, "First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin.” It’s a nice touch.” - Christopher Bastin. Photo: Gant Remake
The capsule’s sustainable approach is also what drew in Zalando, explains Fabio Baum, General Manager Benelux and Nordics. “Our vision is to reinforce actions towards a more responsible fashion industry, to encourage fashion brands exploring more sustainable alternatives. Incorporating heritage and vintage pieces into streetwear aligns with the growing desire for more conscious consumption. By giving new life to old garments and supporting heritage brands with enduring legacies, streetwear enthusiasts can participate in a more sustainable fashion ecosystem.”
It also speaks to a desire to encourage unique choices that cater to the individual. “In a culture that celebrates self-expression, wearing vintage items allows individuals to stand out from the crowd and showcase their appreciation for the past,” Baum reflects.
Photo: Gant Remake
“The limited edition capsule collection reminisces about the GANT’s beginnings while modernising it” - in a way which Baum believes caters to Zalando’s Nordic quotient.
“In the Nordics, we see different style categories collectively shaping streetwear,” he continues. “There is a significant influence from American aesthetics and streetwear culture where fashion choices are heavily informed by various subcultures. These pieces serve as anchors, connecting the present to the past while infusing street fashion with a sense of history and character.”
Shop the 'GANT Remake' capsule here now, exclusively available at Zalando