The Tamesis
Tom Brown, Robbie LawrencePhotography: Matthew Foley
Ahead of Easter weekend, Thom Browne has gathered an intimate group of artists, tastemakers, sports enthusiasts and sneakerheads to toast the launch of the new Thom Browne x Asics Sportstyle collaboration and its accompanying photography magazine working hours. The evening was held at the Pierre Augustin Rose Gallery in SoHo and welcomed many loyal fans of the brand, including Pete’s house Patrick Ball, Amy Fine Collins, Joe Holder, Indira Scott, Ella Emhoff and Jessica Joffe — for a panel discussion and champagne reception.
Guests, many dressed in full Thom Browne show looks, walked around the space with ice-cold Krug flutes or tall glasses of refreshing Evian water. “Who needs hors d’oeuvres “When you can visually enjoy the feast of these ensembles,” laughed actor Diego Rodriguez, who was praised for his Olivier Award-nominated work EvitaRodriguez added: “I love being able to enjoy the world of fashion between traveling and performing, and Tom is the absolute best at what he does.”
Against the backdrop of the loft’s minimalist furnishings and décor, a group of gray-suited attendees gathered to hear Brown reveal more of the backstory on the partnership; a rare collaboration for the designer. Brown is hosted by Canadian writer and filmmaker Durga Chew-Bose, photojournalist and working hours collaborator Robbie Lawrence, and artist, curator and writer Aaron Stern.
“This collaboration really resonates with me. It embodies an interpretation of what I do and everything I’ve done in design over the past 25 years,” Browne, who is also a lifelong sports fanatic and runner, told the room. Lawrence agreed: “I think the whole idea, and Aaron’s reinterpretation, was an interesting process of getting people to trust each other in their work.” To solidify their point, Stern agreed: “I hate it when people ask, ‘What’s the inspiration?'” Because a lot of times, the work speaks for itself. “
When Chew-Bose finished things off, the gallery walls transformed momentarily and a projector played a live-action version of the short film working hours, The visual depicts Browne himself running around New York City, alongside a group of models wearing Thom Browne X Asics.
Later, with the venue buzzing again, brand ambassador and in-house model Jaylon Dawson (who has been part of the Thom Browne family for two years) toasted to a “unique and top-notch evening”. They wore the brand’s instantly recognizable uniform of sport coats, skirts and stockings, adding: “I can’t wait to put on these new sneakers and take them for a spin around the city.”
