Daiki Suzuki’s fall lineup for Engineered Garments is an ode to New York City and its many characters. Rather than a specific time, era, borough, or demographic, Suzuki embraced the city as a whole, its chaos and undertones and, most of all, its diversity of people, thought, and style. The result is classic EG—a mishmash of textiles, prints, techniques, and proportions that comes together to create a singular and fair interpretation of New York.
Suzuki’s approach was to weave in the city’s ever growing music scene. The music note motif is a literal interpretation of that theme, but true music geeks will find subtle references to everyone from “Englishman in New York” Sting and Billy Joel to the city’s jazz scene.
Past the New York playlist of it all, Suzuki continues to excel at making some key layering pieces, from lightweight suiting and versatile shirting to a couple of great trench coats and a utilitarian newsboy vest that will certainly charm the menswear contingent. If at times the print mashups can feel overwhelming, they’re balanced by an inspired use of sartorial wool suitings and the deft way Suzuki works around creating a neutral or monochromatic look while avoiding flatness by way of texture.
Most interesting of all is to consider Suzuki’s take on New York style: Rather than letting it be informed by old snaps of celebrities in the city or by today’s algorithms, this version of New York merges its past with its present and its uptown put-togetherness with its unmatched downtown vibe. Take a scroll here to be transported to a stroll up the Central Park segment of Fifth Avenue in the 1950s or a walk through Tompkins Square Park in the East Village as recently as last weekend.
