PROJECT#13 REVERENCE｜JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE

PROJECT#13 — REVERENCE

Wearing Willful Stillness

Wearing willful stillness

Deeply layered materials.
Soft shadows.
A structure that holds air.

The garments of REVERENCE
envelop the body and
quietly deepen its contours.

PROJECT#13 REVERENCE
is a collection of silhouettes inspired by the temperament of the textiles from which they are constructed. The ethereal Eri and Shuliang silk in particular, laboriously crafted with inherited wisdoms, give way to garments that are pensive and considerate, while also calling on us to linger and deepen our awareness.

Textures, from the densest cotton canvas to robust clouds of mohair, alluding to elements that nurtured them into being, imbue the pieces with a subtle playfulness and fluidity that defy duality. Our bodies sheltered in these supple shields, a gentle but rugged cradle, propelling us towards the offing with a quiet effervescence.

These fabrics hold an accumulated depth, of the cycle from earth to root to light, arriving at colors too elusive to name. The emergent hues complex as the process, as love.

Reverence is an embodiment of the unwavering devotion to craftsmanship, with respect for the elements that we derive our strength from. The garments prod us to stand steady and spirited while simultaneously pointing to our fragility. Bold silhouettes—from tall stand collars and cinched trousers, to the mohair beret and hand-made tassels—carry delicate sentiments beyond solemn pragmatism.

In reimagining the military silhouettes, the collection takes inspiration from the uniform’s versatile utilitarian qualities but remains radical in its insistence on fluid structures and individualized forms.

Handcrafted silk fabrics, padded or otherwise, together with wools sourced with an emphasis on naturally breathable insulation, lend the garments volume while staying light.

The pieces take time to unveil their generosity and contradictions in unexpected ways. A slow reveal, with fabrics subdued and soft-spoken, that hold on to a certain enigma, demanding we alter our vision to absorb their gleam.

Lamine Diouf’s handwoven design, of understated complexity, epitomizes the essence of this collection, with an exacting attention to each filament and their relevance on the woven plane.

Expressions of Romanticism with high functionality, the garments support with comfort and protection, lifting and urging us forward.

Japanese text

PROJECT#13 REVERENCE

Garments of sensibility, contoured by stillness

REVERENCE
listens to the "temperament"
inherent in the textiles themselves
and the forms that emerge from it—
a collection of silhouettes
where thought and body, sensibility and structure
quietly resonate.

Delicate materials such as
Eri silk and Shuliang silk
were born from craftsmanship and wisdom
passed down through generations.
Their appearance is deeply quiet,
offering moments to pause
in our daily lives.

Dense cotton canvas,
the floating softness of mohair—
the background and environment of each material
become texture,
appearing not as emotion, but as presence.

Enveloped gently by these,
the body harbors a quiet dynamism
and gains the power to look into the distance.
Protected yet free.
These are garments that convey such feelings.

Material and structure, and what lies between them

REVERENCE was born from
a deep respect for craftsmanship
and an attitude of listening to the voice
of the materials themselves.

Tall stand collars,
silhouettes that gently shape the contours,
handmade tassels, and
the soft shadows of mohair.
These transcend the realm of practicality,
imbue a subtle resonance
deep within our senses.

Strength and suppleness.
Stillness and presence.
Both are
equally woven in.

Reconstructed Uniforms

This collection,
while inspired by the functionality and structural beauty
of military uniforms,
incorporates individual freedom and softness
to transform into "a philosophy to wear."

Silk padding that holds air.
Carefully selected wools
emphasizing natural breathability.
The texture of hand-woven fabrics with suppressed tension.
Each achieves both lightness and dimensionality
while quietly revealing
its own contours.

Expression unfolding over time

The garments of REVERENCE
do not reveal everything at once.

Within a modest narrative,
depth and contradictions overlap,
slowly unraveling over time—
This process of "unfolding"
is the charm of these clothes.

The gleam that emerges with varying light.
The soft movement revealed by the passing wind.
These "subtle changes"
alter the wearer's perception
and quietly stir the senses.

A landscape layered within a single thread

The hand-woven fabric by
Senegalese artisan Lamine Diouf
symbolizes the spirit of REVERENCE.

Modest, quiet, yet intricate.
The meticulousness embedded in the movement of each thread
creates a deep and rich presence
on the surface of the garment.

Sensation, not structure.
Quality, not quantity.
A breathing presence,
rather than excessive explanation.
Such an attitude
is certainly present in this fabric.

Garments that wear sensibility

The garments of REVERENCE
while certainly providing comfort and functionality,
also subtly add "stillness" and "depth"
that one can return to in daily life.

By wearing these clothes,
one's senses gradually clear,
as if able to see into the distance—
such a change in sensibility
quietly arrives.

Perhaps it is not "attire" for someone else,
but a form for discovering
one's own contours.

PROJECT#13 REVERENCE

Nature and material
Structure and void
Stillness and strength.

The dialogue born between them
is bound together
through the form of clothing.
Without being constrained by gender or age,
freely and deeply—as one's sensibilities dictate.

REVERENCE is a collection that quietly touches
the essence of "wearing."

— BORDEAUX