We love a bit of referencing.
Especially if the referencing involves stuff we’re into. It’s kind of the whole reason that we like doing our A Good Look series – a concept in which we reference a film character’s outfit, without it being so over the top it could be a Halloween costume.
A brand that seems to also share our deep-rooted passion for referencing film characters and their wardrobes is Needles – a brand whose famed butterfly logo was inspired by Steve McQueen’s tattoo in Papillon.
The latest bit of nice referencing that Needles has done comes from a film that is slightly less serious, but just as equally (bit of a stretch) profound…
The Big Lebowski.
For Fall/Winter 2024, Nepenthes London and Needles have announced the release of two very highly admired collaborative styles – The Rebuild by Needles Covered Pant and the Needles Mohair Cardigan, interpreted and curated by Nepenthes in London and produced in Japan.
Before we get into all The Dudeism’s, it’s important to grasp an understanding of what Rebuild by Needles is, the garments themselves and their backstories…
Rebuild by Needles started life as a line of reconstructed vintage clothing, which sought to repurpose used products by reassembling them into new products that people would actually want, not just a smelly jumper with a load of weird patches on it.
The line was conceived by Nepenthes founder Keizo Shimizu when he visited a work boot manufacturer in Washington – encapsulated by the expert craftsmanship the brand used when repairing their workers’ boots, Keizo was desperate to utilize similar techniques in the manufacturing of his own repurposed garments, and thus Rebuild by Needles was born.
So, what about the two garments up for grabs?
The Rebuild by Needles Covered Pant has been produced by dismantling used denim and reassembling it into a pair of fresh slacks. This rendition of the pant is featured with a seasonal use of Glen plaid wool that sort of outlines the entire silhouette. The wool has been repurposed from other plaid woollen items throughout the season, such as the Needles Loafer jacket and their HDP Pant.
The Mohair Cardigan – a Needles classic – actually already has a film reference other than the Big Lebowski (which we’ll get onto in a minute.) When the garment was created it was inspired by the iconic John Lurie, who famously donned a similar cardigan in the cult classic Stranger Than Paradise. The cardigan captures the essence of this timeless style, is constructed from mohair yarn and has a relaxed fit. This rendition of the cardigan makes use of a green and black jacquard pattern that expertly nails the ugly (but beautiful) knitwear phenomenon.
So, what the hell has this all got to do with The Big Lebowski?
Well, having looked at the photos that should all become apparent very quickly.
Photographer Chris Rhodes was tasked with shooting the campaign at Rowans bowling alley in Finsbury Park, for no reason other than to reference the character Jesus Quintana, the purple-obsessed-anti-villain from The Big Lebowski.
We can be a bit protective over films we like, but let me tell you something pendejo, we think Chris Rhodes has done an excellent job of capturing the chaoticness of Jesus in creative director Mikey Krzyzanowksi.
The capsule is set to release exclusively at Nepenthes London from Tuesday the 12th of November.
