A$AP Rocky and AWGE will make their Paris Fashion Week debut with their first ever fashion show. Titled “American Sabotage,” the collection features 30 meticulously crafted looks that explore ghetto expressionism. With design assistance from Joshua Jamal, Bede Marchand, and Coucou Bebe, American Sabotage gives audiences a glimpse into his creative instincts and spirit. Nicknamed Fashion Killa, Rocky strays from conventional definitions to build bridges between communities through culture.
Featuring three unreleased tracks from A$AP Rocky’s upcoming album, the collection is where art meets activism. Designed with purpose, the collection also includes footwear by PUMA and eyewear by Ray-Ban. When guests first stepped into the Hôtel de Maisons venue, they were greeted by three Alpine-sponsored supercars and a group of AWGE misfits standing guard at the door with flags that read “Don’t Be Dumb,” setting a clear collection tone.
Speaking with Rocky ahead of the show, the multi-talented designer told Hypebeast why he named the collection “American Sabotage.” He explained, “America itself has a lot of historical value… I’m highlighting my American story, my American horror story, my American story, my American sabotage.” Rocky added, “I used to sit on the streets of New York and watch people, and I see people of all different ethnicities and classes, from the rich to the impoverished. I’m inspired by all of that… refugees, incarceration, mass incarceration. I’ve been exposed to all of that. I’m familiar with all of that, and for me this is just sharing my representation of the ghetto.”
The designs were certainly purposeful. Together, the clothes tell Rocky’s story, with pieces featuring phrases like “Political Satire” and bomber jackets featuring prominent motifs of the American bald eagle and flag. An American Uncle Sam poster was uniquely interpreted for the collection, with two middle fingers raised and the words “F$CK YOU!” written on it, creating a rebellious atmosphere that is truly Rocky. Oversized silhouettes dominate, dramatizing New York street scenes. Pieces inspired by NYPD and EMT uniforms pay homage to Rocky’s idea of ”ghetto expressionism.” Layers of pieces create volume, mimicking Rocky’s own signature style.
Check out the full collection above.