Walking into a dim room, the models of W.R.K. can be seen lined up on lit platforms juxtaposed against the skyline glowing through tall glass windows. Inspired by the Alaskan SWAT team, Designer Matteo Gottardi fabricated each piece in the collection to have a very uniform feel, yet also mixed together various textures throughout.

“Every season, I’m inspired by every occupation.” Gottardi says of his inspiration,  “Not so much by the task at hand, but more with the character behind it, the person that’s behind it. I love the SWAT uniforms and I love all the technical gear that they wear and starting to kind of build around that I found this image of

this Alaskan SWAT team from Anchorage. And the fact that in the winter, they never really get any sun and it’s always kind of a sunset, sunrise kind of thing, and its beautiful colors of reds and blues bouncing off of the mountains. That was it, and that was how it started and how it ended.”

Each model sported identical black military boots as well as black neoprene gloves, which appealed to the uniform aspect of the theme. The layering of different colors and textures brought out the uniqueness of the clothes. Because of the layers, most of the pieces were button downs and jackets, also making the entire line very versatile for colder weather. Each layer either played with colors like burgundy or navy blue, or had materials like neoprene jackets or square quilted textures.

Because of the rigid style and snowy Alaskan inspiration, the clothing seemed like something one would wear for a very luxurious ski trip rather than out on the New York City streets, but inspiring nonetheless.

Email  Brenda Liu at [email protected]