AW03 Helmut Lang PRESS SAMPLE ‘Bondage’ MA-1 Bomber Jacket

Helmut Lang’s Autumn 2003 collection is widely regarded as a hallmark of the Austrian designer’s career. Standing hand in hand with respective works like AW99 and SS05, for Autumn 2003, Lang dawned a conglomerate of restrictive bondage accents, militaristic hues and futuristic cuts. Going full throttle on the utilitarian aesthetic, he’d deconstruct items like aviation seatbelts to create wearable harness accessories, bondage clasped MA-1 jackets and concealed parachute suits to pair. Tailoring garments with razor sharp accuracy, we’d see an uncommon theme from Lang - graphics, printed in a negative typography atop a white collared button up. Finishing the unisex collection with a series of womenswear looks, he’d close Fall ‘03 with lace mid length skirts and cropped leather jackets, leaving us with centuries of expertise to dissect.

Despite having officially released in the 27th look of the Autumn of 2003 collection, this iconic MA-1 bondage jacket comes as an incredibly rare ‘Press Sample’. Used as a marketing piece for agencies to photograph and reference, they were only ever available to the public for purchase at ‘sample sales’. Illustrating the intense rarity of this item, it comes fit with bondage details on the exterior sleeves, alongside elasticated finger looping details on either cuff. Sewn to perfection, this piece comes in pristine condition throughout and is tagged as a size 50 or medium, you will not see this item for sale again.