For his eponymous label’s spring 2021 collectsion, Heron Preston delivered us a departure from his signature bold, graphic-embellished pieces. It was a collectsion that was pared-down, elevated, and cerebral with modern takes on wardrobe staples and polished workwear pieces. And then again at his fall 2021 menswear collectsion, he kept at it—the clothes offered an air of simplicity and directness that almost served as a prelude to his well-anticipated Calvin Klein collectsion.
Today, Heron Preston and Calvin Klein’s collectsion drops online, with a plethora of careful wardrobe staples like the perfect white T-shirt, hoodies and sweatpants, carpenter jeans, and of course, underwear. “I wanted to embrace the brand’s DNA while also creating a collectsion that was real, unexpected, and personal—a re-contextualization of the brand, with my spin,” says Preston. “Designing the collectsion started with exploring Calvin Klein’s archive and revisiting some of those classic styles and cuts. I’m a very visual person, so being able to play with colors and fabrics within the archive was a dream. I wanted to respect that history, and at the same time, make sure the collectsion felt modern and relevant.”
In true Preston form, the modern essentials that make up the collectsion are rooted in workwear; brand identity comes through in subtle detailing. “I wanted to design a collectsion that would maybe catch your friend off guard and start a conversation because of the tiny details,” Preston says. “It was about stripping back and focusing on the fit, the shapes, the stitching, and the quality of each piece, so I really obsessed over the details…I like the idea of having fun with different concepts with pieces that, to the eye, are relatively basic in form.” Preston played with a weight system for the T-shirts, raised stitching, and hidden pockets. Even the designer’s signature, bright orange hue comes through on each piece in a way that somehow feels minimalist. “You get that square-box stitch on every garment, and that is the unifying theme between the pieces, that orange stitch,” he says.
Preston calls this a “collaboration 2.0” because he also consulted on the marketing and advertising campaign—the 360-degree approach allows the designer to tell a deeper story around the collectsion. Models include Kaia Gerber, Ashley Graham, Nas, and Lil Uzi Vert—impeccably cast photos that evoke those classic Calvin Klein ads with Kate Moss.
As for Preston’s favorite piece in the collectsion? The carpenter jeans. “I found the carpenter jeans in the archive, and it’s personally a favorite of mine because I’m inspired by workwear, and also this is a style that everyone can make their own,” Preston says. “I also love the double hoodie. Again, in workwear, there is a wide use of thicker fabrics and I wanted to play with that. The double hoodie almost felt jacket-like through the double layering and ribbed-collar detail.”
Here, shop the collaboration now.
