Review: CFCL Spring 2023 Collection
Designer Yusuke Takahashi of CFCL always designs with sophistication, consciousness, and comfort in mind. On consciousness, CFCL's new B Corporation certification formally sets a standard for the brand's production practices and how they impact our climate. But Takahashi, who founded Clothing For Contemporary Life at the start of the pandemic in 2020, isn't new to conscious designing, he's true to a sustainable designing approach. "The clothing we envision for contemporary life is not only sophisticated in terms of design and functionality but also created responsibly and transparently," it reads on the brand's website. "Having recognized the challenges that need to be tackled, we want to continue our ambitious efforts, doing what we can one step at a time."
As for the former and the latter conponents, like past showings, CFCL's Spring 2023 offerings continue to push the boundaries on knitwear's abilities to dress you from casual to formal. Red, orange, electric green monochromatic, and monochrome looks stormed the Palais de Tokyo in a part runway, part artistic presentation style showing. Form-fitting sheer cardigan and tank style billowed out into beautiful peplums, and billowy silhouettes and expert layering happened with dresses, and maxi skirts styled over pants. In some ways, the clothes were transformative. As models showcased clavicle-bearing full-length dresses, I had to reconfirm that these garments are, in fact, cozy comfy knitwear. But, on the opposite end of that spectrum, this is what fashion should be, functional, livable, stylish, and, thanks to computer programming-aided technology, designed with almost no waste.
