PS20 Amsterdams Blauw – The Underground Blues Mens

PS20 Amsterdams Blauw takes a look back through art history and finds inspiration by way of two gangs of master painters. Pack number one is led by impressionist master Pablo Picasso. Set in the early 1900s, Picasso and his overall-clad, paint-splattered contemporaries burst onto the Parisian scene with their every-shade-of-blue renderings of the world around them. Sixty years later, across the Atlantic, a second gang is forming in grungy Lower East Manhattan - hosted by Andy Warhol at The Factory.

Despite being separated by decades and oceans, the two masters and their respective gangs are connected by the same fiery ambition and ideology: both gangs forge new genres and break open art for the masses. These two gangs and their unique code for creativity sets the scene for a new season; a riotous adventure of passion, colour and culture with always an Amsterdams Blauw signature wink.

Cross-collection headlines

-Ams Blauw classics

A capsule of iconic denim-minded pieces ranging from the perfect classic denim and matching jacket to the ideal chino and a well-crafted Breton. Each Ams Blauw classic is issued with its own special hang tag.

-Re-spun classics

Such as pinstripes, pied-de-poule and checks.

-Tailored denim

Featuring rich textures such as flock, accompanied by a dressed-up way of styling.

-Bandana art

Deconstructed bandana placements and prints.

-Continued focus on sustainability –

Designing with organic cotton and embracing more sustainable washes.

-A new take on denim workwear

Fresh colours, new artworks, rich and unexpected mixing of qualities.

-Masterclash – when Andy and Pablo meet

Blown-up artworks, neon-meets-neutral, multiple textures and tone-on-tone colour.

The Blue Period

Underpinned by Picasso’s blue period, this drop is grounded in the artist’s favourite hue. Sometimes clear and deep; other times pastel and powdered – we see the world through blue eyes.

The denim and pant direction ranges from workwear inspired denim with matching jackets to artisanal pinstripes on Picasso inspired silhouettes. We also issued a range of tailored pieces, inspired by Parisian chic – including a standout suit.

Deconstructed bandanas are our homage to Pablo Picasso who always wore one. And we see bandana art in everything from allover prints to artful placements on destroyed denim. Bandana twill also puts a bold spin on workwear-inspired shirting for men and boys.

The November colour card is a Picasso-inspired blend of blues and purples: from sugar blue and light mauve to a richer purple. A tight French palette of reds, whites and blues gets fresh contrast with khaki and other utility browns. The palette is finished with detailing in neon orange.

 

The Blue Period key styles:

Men’s denims

-Norm denim in ‘Blauw cure’ wash – an authentic mid-blue wash (see also Norm trucker jacket with iconic illustration of a jacket in its interior)

-Vernon denim in ‘Blauw bandana’ wash – ecru denim with blue allover print

-100% organic cotton Ralston denim in ‘pin stripe’ wash – an Amsterdams Blauw icon, reissued with a lazered pinstripe with ‘Blauw’ script in stripe

-Seasonal painter pant – rigid denim in ‘sugar blue’: a muted, powdery blue

-Dean denim in ‘masterpiece’ – a two-piece deep blue uniform with unusual neppy stripe in the fabric (with matching trucker jacket).

Men’s tops and outerwear

-Classic jean trucker – with jacket illustration inside

-Printed shirt jacket – in bandana red, featuring deconstructed signature ‘Blauw’ print

-Twill utility shirt – in with allover exploded bandana print (also available in solid colours) -Corduroy blazer – An Amsterdams Blauw classic, reworked in cord with matching pant -Longline wool coat – in a midnight blue, with a nylon padded back panel

Factory Culture

Amsterdams Blauw’s December delivery is a full-colour, mixed-media explosion inspired by Andy Warhol and The Factory. Expect a mash-up of arthouse artworks and prints, detailed with the season’s neon-green.

Classic themes such as pied-a-poule, pinstripes and checks are given fresh perspectives thanks to treatments that nod to Warhol-esque screen-printing. New colourways featuring shots of neon, innovative fabric applications and unexpected mixing of qualities are other techniques that work magic for effortless, NYC-street appeal.

The colour palette sees blacks, whites and ecrus mix with neutrals and neons. Earthy rusts, brick red and retro-yellow clash with pop-art fluoro pinks, while greens of several shades make an artful nod to Spring.

Factory culture key styles:

Men’s denims

-Seasonal cargo pants in ‘indigo stripe’ – a loose cut with white pinstripe on an indigo base

-Ralston Crop denim in ‘sketch it out’ – with seasonal pied-a-poule iteration

-Vernon in ‘factory black’ overdyed rust tone on a 100% organic cotton Italian base

-Ralston Crop in ‘patch it up’ – a cropped jean cut from a mix of blue denim patches

Men’s tops and outerwear

-Denim puffer jacket with ‘indigo’ trench – a quilted puffer in a denim execution, with zip-off sleeves (sleeveless, it looks great styled with the indigo trench jacket) -Dégradé effect parka – a utility-style jacket in a mash-up of blue hues

-Neon checked flannel shirt – a Blauw classic, updated in a neon-meets-neutral palette -Pinstripe hoodie – two-piece off-duty uniform with matching pinstripe sweatpants -Artwork sweat – in a mustard yellow, with an artwork that embodies the delivery’s factory vibe

-Shawl collar pullover – in a monochrome pied-a-poule print

-Jacquard all-over hoodie – and matching tee, both in an earthy rust shade

Lot 22: The Factory

Lot 22 is the Amsterdams Blauw premium denim lab. A place where we forget the rules and experiment to create real indigo newness. Directional fabrications, washes and detailing are our permanent ingredients.

For Pre-fall ‘20, inspiration comes by way of Andy Warhol’s infamous New York base - The Factory. We explore the idea of denim as collectable art pieces, delivering a tight capsule headlined by an acidic-neon take on dégradé. The capsule includes three statement denims, a premium workwear pant and shirt with innovative dégradé lining, a dégradé panel tee, and oversize artwork hoodie.

The highlight denim of ‘Lot 22: The Factory’ is premium Italian, recycled cotton and lyocell selvedge that boasts two entirely different looks thanks to its fully reversible styling. On the other side of the deep raw denim cast; an allover print featuring the multi-colour ‘Ams Blauw: The Factory’ logo.

Lot 22 Colourways:

Neon green, rust and purple and the three combined in multicolour dégradé accompany denims that range from to classic mid-blue destruction and repair and monochrome.

Lot 22 key styles:

-Lot 22 denim shirt – a reversible bonded denim style with a dégradé fade on one side

-Lot 22 Ralston – a fully reversible neon green selvedge jean with allover print on one side -Lot 22 Norm – in wash ‘purple works’ – a premium coloured jean -Lot 22 premium tee – with contrast panels in rust, green and blue