The erstwhile classic brand J.Crew has partnered with five emerging designers to reimagine its 40 year-old signature sweater, the Rollneck.
Dubbed “The J.Crew Rollneck Remix,” designers Buci NY, Collina Strada, Eckhaus Latta, Patrick Taylor and Tanner Fletcher have all thrown their design talents into the mix to put their own signature spin on a classic.
“Each designer was given creative freedom to reinterpret the Rollneck, resulting in five ultra-limited pieces that reflect individual points of view while remaining unmistakably J.Crew,” explains a press release.
New York-based Mishka Ivanoic of Buci (pronounced “Boot-si”) approaches her designs with ease in mind, and describes her take as “feminine, comfortable, chic.” She adds, “We made the roll of the neck very feminine while keeping the authenticity of the original sweater. Putting our spin on such a classic is a huge honor.”
New York–based designer Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada boldly blends prints, colors and textures in her creations, describing her contribution as “Pink, green, lacy.” She adds, “I love to play with color and texture just like J.Crew, but the Collina Strada spirit really comes through with the lace. It makes such an impact in any design, adding an essence of femininity and luxury.”
The design duo Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell put their modern spin on vintage silhouettes and nostalgic details, calling their rollneck, “nautical and timeless.” They add, “We wanted to pay homage to J.Crew’s nautical roots—and we had never seen a sweater with the classic sailor flap tie. It became our mission to design that.”
Bicoastal designers Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta blur the lines between fashion and art, and took a “colorblocked, easy, dynamic” approach to the assignment. “There’s a really nice synergy between the curled edges of the Rollneck™ and the way we like to play with knitwear,” they say, adding, “Our stitches are very singular to us, and getting to apply them here made a wonderful union.”
U.K. born Patrick Taylor brings his childhood love for sports and sailing to his work, calling his contribution, “playful, colorful, performance.” The designer, now based in NYC, says, “The sailing club is representative of the community that J.Crew has built—the group ethos that is present in its heritage—but also the energy I hope to produce in my own line.”
The styles, which are part of a limited-edition collection, are priced at $180 each and available now at jcrew.com.
—
Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com