New designers are a breath a fresh air and when I find one I often feel like I’ve stumbled upon a secret right before it’s uncovered. It’s exciting to see what a new perspective can bring, and the trajectory their career is going to take, especially when it’s someone from the UK. I first came across Eastwood Danso when he was working at A Cold Wall* where he was doing everything from material souring to overseeing samples, and then I saw him again at the London leg of photographer Christina Paik’s tour. Even in those brief moments you could see his drive as he ran around making sure everything was in the right place and running as it should. It was this that intrigued me to know what else the young designer might be working on.
One of the first introductions I had into Eastwood’s work was his eponymous jewelry line, featuring raw silver necklaces such as the ‘Nail Cross’ in his latest capsule ‘Natural Thinker’. There’s a purity to all of his jewelry, no additional ‘bling’ is needed just 925. Silver and a simplistic design.
Following this, his clothing line was available for viewing during Paris Fashion Week in January. In contrast to his jewelry, although complimentary, his pieces incorporate additional layering, and a mix of materials and lends itself to a utilitarian aesthetic. Whether it’s the visible external pockets, additional buckles, or the zip detailing and overlaps, Eastwood creates clothing with complex structures yet functional.
As I browse through his archives, I kick myself for only now noticing his collaboration with OBS which features a statement yellow jacket, as well as a matching bag (something I’d definitely wear). Eastwood executes to perfection and is certainly aware of symmetry, which is necessary for complex structures to avoid the pieces looking ‘busy’. He usually opts for monotone colours, and where any print is present, they are confined to a specific area.
As a sneakerhead, the latest creation by Eastwood is definitely at the forefront of my mind; constantly watching for a potential release date. This is of-course the Converse sneaker-boot, where he merges the upper of a converse with a boot sole swap and includes outer lace eyelets and additional laces. This could potentially be the future of formal footwear; with sneakers becoming so commonplace this might be the happy medium we all need. The sneaker-boot was even styled alongside Louis Vuitton for the luxury magazine L’Officiel Hommes.
I expect that Eastwood will ramp up production and take orders in the latter part of the year, and judging by previous collections, it’s likely to sell out. Given the breadth of his creations, I imagine he has an interesting creative process so it would be good to interview him at some point when he’s not busy conquering the industry. Keep an eye on this brand and get in on it early!
