Hussein Chalayan, A/W 2003-4 ‘Place / Non-place’, 
Double Layered Cargo Trouser

For his second men’s collection, Chalayan based his inspiration around aviation, travel, and airports. With details throughout the collection leaning towards the utility needed for wearers in travelling situations, pockets were designed specifically for certain items. Hussein said in a 2005 interview; “It is about the idea of achieving a maximum degree of mobility by taking your environment with you. The vessel nurtures the passenger, feeds, clothes and transports it. Today we travel so much, are on the move all the time, creating temporary residences for ourselves. We are constantly displaced”.

‘Place/Non-place’ was an interactive event coinciding with Chalayan’s Autumn/Winter 2003 menswear collection of the same name. Inspired by French anthropologist Marc Augé’s description of airports as “non-places”. This idea came from Chalayan’s interest in turning a non-place into a place, attaching labels inside the garments inviting buyers of the pieces to meet at at Heathrow Airport, London, 4 May 2004. Two of the design team were there to meet and offer items which would fitted the specially designed pockets on the garments. Only one person turned up.

Here we see an exceptional, almost unseen piece from the collection. The outer cargo pant is constructed out of a soft brushed cotton, featuring a sleek design with knee pleats, waist adjustment and carpenter pockets on each side. The lining features a jersey material which overlays the waist and extends out the bottom hek, giving the effect of a layered piece.

Size 48.

Waist: 42cm
Rise: 26cm
Inseam: 84cm
Hem: 13cm

Condition 9/10.