AW98 Raf Simons ‘Radioactivity’ HMD 414 White Graphic Crewneck

Raf Simons’ Autumn 1998 collection was a pivotal point for the Belgian designer, pulling influence from new-wave band “Kraftwerk” and their 1975 album - “Radio-Activity”. The runway walked slim silhouettes and foreign patterning techniques, experimenting with textiles like mohair in tenuous fashion. Nodding to pioneers in electronic music, with names like John Foxx and Ryuichi Sakamoto appearing through nearly unbreathable tailoring, leather trousers clung skin-tight to each model’s body, some of which were concealed with blank moto helmets. At times, we saw inspiration through call backs to the ‘70s punk movement, employing spiderweb loos-gauge knits and iconography of the era. In all, the Autumn ‘98 collection continues to portray a moment of historical eminence under Simons’ vast portfolio.

Debuting in Raf Simons’ Fall 1998 collection, this iconic crewneck features a semi-abstract depiction of a man wearing a Sennheiser HMD 414 headset. Referencing Florian Schneider-Esleben of Kraftwerk who sported the device as a stylistic piece throughout the band’s 1981 ‘Computer World’ tour, Simons’ pays homage by printing both a direct and side view of the face atop a heavyweight white crewneck. Having now become a cultural staple, this motif plagues both the chest and underside of the garment, demonstrating the Belgian designer’s eye for perfected minimalism. Tagged as a size medium, this piece comes in good condition, with signs of use and light discolouration throughout.