Images courtesy of Max ‘n Chester.
NYC-based Max ‘n Chester was founded in 2012 by designer Peter Trainor, an already established designer with a fascination for Japanese fabrics, a talent for deconstructed tailoring and a passion for pushing fashion boundaries. The brand’s Spring/Summer 2017 collection puts a relaxed spin on the fashion world’s current obsession with androgyny , offering relaxed and over-sized menswear silhouettes fabricated using high quality Japanese cottons, linens and silks. The beach-y Caribbean vibes makes us long for cold beers on a hot white sand beach, while the cheeky three-piece suits are perfect for soirees in Cannes.
Here, Mr. Trainor gives us the lowdown on the outlook and inspirations that helped shape the S/S17 collection:
Crave: What do you consider the signature menswear piece in your S/S17 collection?
Our layered Peter jacket with the double layer finish at the hem.
From where/what do you draw your influences and inspiration?
Models wear Max ‘n Chester S/S17 collection, with designer Peter Trainor at center.
All over. We travel a lot and are fortunate to see other countries and cultures of how they dress, etc. We were able to take in what we saw and translate it with the fabrications from our Japanese mills into the collection.
What is the most important thing you want people to remember about your S/S17 collection?
When you wear it, you have the flexibility of standing out in the crowd in the evening or looking cool while standing by the beach.
How does your where you grew up inform your current designs?
I don’t think it’s necessarily where you grew up, it’s a case of feeling very natural within yourself in your outlook towards fashion.
How does fabric choices and construction impact your final creations?
Fabric is everything. I think some people fail to point out that in certain collections, you see people skip on fabric all the time. We like to combine the two together in equal measures. I don’t see how you can do a great collection without wonderful flowing fabrication. Fabric is fashion.
