John Lawrence Sullivan Spring/Summer 2027 / SS27 for Intervention at Berlin Fashion Week entitled “ Androgyny ”
Strength and fragility. Beauty and ugliness. Discipline and impulse. Reason and desire. Liberation and restraint. Masculinity and femininity. Rather than existing in opposition, these forces coexist within a single body. John Lawrence Sullivan SS27 / Spring/Summer 2027 collection explores the body as a site of ambiguity. A body that inhabits the space between seemingly contradictory states. Instead of resolving these tensions, the collection embraces them, proposing garments that allow the wearer to inhabit the boundary itself.
A key point of departure for the collection was Modern Lovers (1990), the portrait series by French photographer Bettina Rheims. The work captures bodies liberated from conventional ideals, social roles, and prescribed notions of gender, presenting forms of self-expression that exist beyond established norms. Within the menswear offering are boat slit-neck tops, shorts constructed to resemble skirts, and shoes featuring heels.
Conversely, garments traditionally associated with menswear, including double-cuff shirts and mini-length jumpsuits developed through an exaggerated interpretation of military shirts – are presented within the womenswear category, intentionally blurring the boundaries of conventional gender codes. This exploration extends to the textiles as well. Materials traditionally associated with femininity and ornamentation including Raschel lace, net tulle, crushed velvet, and patent finishes—are employed throughout the collection, contributing to an androgynous expression of the body.
John Lawrence Sullivan SS27 / Spring/Summer 2027 collection also examines the Japanese concept of shibari. A word that carries multiple meanings. It refers both to the discipline and structural constraints inherent in tailoring and to the physical act of binding the body. These dual interpretations are brought together throughout the collection. Inspired by the bondage drawings of Nancy Grossman, tailored jackets and coats feature self-fabric tapes extending from beneath the lapels, allowing the garments to be tied around the body in a manner reminiscent of bondage. These details merge the discipline of tailoring with the physicality of restraint.
As a symbol of transformation and renewal, the collection also draws upon the skin of snakes, which continuously shed and regenerate. Snake and lizard patterns, along with python leather, appear not merely as decorative motifs but as a “second skin” that reinforces the collection’s central theme. These elements are incorporated into shoes, belts, bags, and gloves, extending the idea of transformation across the body.
About John Lawrence Sullivan, Founder Arashi Yanagawa was born and raised in Hiroshima Prefecture. Inspired by his father, he began boxing at a young age and went on to become a professional boxer before discovering his passion for fashion. Without formal design training, he launched JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN in 2003. The brand embodies strength, individuality, and dignity, and is driven by an uncompromising spirit. Rooted in tailoring, JLS menswear is built on a core philosophy of power and elegance. In Spring & Summer 2007, the brand joined the Tokyo Collection. The women`s line began with the Spring & Summer 2010 collection and is characterized by a sharp impression that makes full use of men`s tailoring techniques. In Autumn & Winter 2011, the brand joined Paris Men’s Fashion Week, and from Autumn & Winter 2017, London Men’s Fashion Week. Currently, the runway shows combine men’s and women’s looks.
All images John Lawrence Sullivan SS27 / Spring/Summer 2027 by the brand. PR Agency Reference Studio. Credit to DESIGNER Arashi Yanagawa, STYLIST Jordan Duddy, HAIR Dushan, MAKE-UP Kenny Campbell, SOUND DIRECTOR Jonas Karsten, CASTING DIRECTION Alter casting, CASTING Taka Arakawa, Jose Maria Martin, CREATIVE CONSULTING Alban Adam, CREATIVE & PR COMMUNICATION Hanna K.OF, Prensented by INTERVENTION