In just a few seasons, Hood By Air has cemented itself as one of the most exciting shows of New York Fashion Week. It doesn't matter if you're a fan of the label or not; it can't be denied that Shayne Oliver's brand stirs up a palpable energy that isn't felt too often in a week full of standardized productions.Â
This season's show presented a collection that ran the full gamut from reliable streetwear to boundary-pushing avant-garde designs. Several long-sleeve tees had what is now HBA's familiar and highly-coveted aesthetic—black color-blocking stripes with blown-up graphics. But there was also a strong element of bright color on most of these, something new for the brand that usually operated in a black-and-white world.
However, the majority of the show was devoted to HBA's ability to deconstruct and re-define pre-existing notions of what a jacket, a sweater, or denim can be. Typically overloaded with zippers, buckles, and metal rings, these looks may not for the faint of heart, but do offer a cohesive vision and direction that the brand is moving in. Each season, the NYC-born and raised label is becoming both more transcendent and more wearable, depending on what the wearer wants to do with it. And when a show can get the crowd hootin' and hollerin' as 10 models danced and walked it out ballroom style for a good three minutes, you know Oliver and HBA already have people looking forward to next season's show.