By: TESSELVTE [ Instagram ] and XEONIQ [ Instagram | Tumblr ]
Equipment Used
- Sony A7iii (ILCE7M3B) with Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM
- Sony A7ii (ILCE-7M2) with Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
It’s the end of winter and at just shy of 2PM in the city of Brisbane, Queensland and the UV Index has already reached 8.5. In a month, it will consistently pass 11, a level labelled extreme by most authorities; where skin and eyes will cook within minutes without protection. Australia is a nation of practicality and fashion as a male interest is still one mired in negative connotations. The environment is not only inhospitable in a natural context, but a social one too for those wishing to express themselves through clothing. Not only are brands marketed to the urban technical consumer prohibitively expensive, but their garments are often developed for cold and wet conditions that are borderline unwearable in sub-tropical cities such as Brisbane. Yet despite this, there are those who are dedicated to finding novel applications of technical clothing for their daily urban lifestyles.
A city of 2.4 million people, Brisbane is the commercial hub of the state of Queensland. Once a a regional bush town, blue-tinted glass and metal finishes provide both a modern veneer to the soon-to-be metropolis and repels the unrelenting sunlight that that irradiates the region.
In a city where wide-brim ‘Akubra’ hats made of rabbit felt and leather boots were once the norm, today as in any globalised multi-cultural city, polyester sneakers, hoodies and caps, if headwear is worn, are now the norm. Infinitely more comfortable, it is from within this modern uniform of convenience and comfort that many Australian techwear enthusiasts have developed their style. The rationale of practicality can justify, if not defend, the decision to spend what most locals would consider exorbitant prices for clothing. Why pay $500 for a jacket when a local fast fashion retailer has them for $30? Further, as Australian cities like Brisbane continue to swell with immigration, the resulting melting pot of aesthetic fashion tastes has provided ample opportunity to delve into the supermodern aesthetic projected by urban technical clothing. With a degree of techno-fetishism perhaps inherent in all those with an interest in techwear, the demand for the latest “gear” can often supersede practical needs or fashion trends.
Amidst the shiny gloss of Brisbane’s 21st century architecture, dark Brutalist giants constructed in the 1970’s and 80’s continue to brood. Once considered an eye-sore, many seek heritage protection of these buildings that were the beginning of Brisbane’s transition to a modern commercial city.
As night descends, LED street lights flicker to life. A cold wind has swept off the Brisbane river and the heat of the day is dispersed. Packable, lightweight shells and mid-layer shirts reside in expandable volume backpacks, rapidly produced and worn to repel wind and rain as needed during these nocturnal commutes.
While 2.4 million people live and work in Brisbane, after the sun sets, many of the busy streets, alleys and paths become deserted. The dark colour palettes often preferred in urban technical looks provide another element of protection while on the road: that of camouflage. In these dark quiet spaces between work and home, keeping one’s head down can be a desirable alternative to standing out. As more and more of Australia’s towns and cities inflate into thriving urban centres, urban technical fashion will too grow: in response to increasingly fluctuating weather; as a reflection of post-modernity expressed through architecture and technology, and as a reaction to expanding social tensions that exist in every densely populated city.