Seven years into their design journey, Arnar Már Jónsson and Luke Stevens, the minds behind Ranra, continue to push boundaries. Their ascent coincided with fashion’s growing appreciation for technical gear, a niche they excel in. Now, they are expanding their approach, incorporating technical materials into tailored pieces, like the citified blazer featured in their spring collection. This blazer, crafted from the reverse of a workwear gabardine twill, boasts a unique “canvassy, vintage-y” feel.
Jackets serve as the core of the collection, each style offering a distinct intrigue. Some draw inspiration from military aesthetics, while others captivate with unexpected color choices. The essence of Ranra’s radicalism lies not in silhouette but in the textiles they use – their weight, dyeing techniques, and overall construction. These elements, combined with their partnerships with specialist suppliers and makers, give the brand an insider appeal, but also present marketing challenges.
Ranra’s designs are inherently “experiential.” Ever striving for weightlessness, this season, the duo focused on adapting their signature layered look for warmer weather. They achieved this by crafting jeans-look pants from airy materials, reminiscent of beloved denim. In a bid to encourage wearer engagement, they meticulously selected fabrics and liberally incorporated cords and stoppers, encouraging “pulling and tying” for adjustable fit, as noted by Stevens.
This spring, Ranra embraces a departure from their previous shadowy lookbook aesthetic, opting for a spacious white setting and models who exude a less boyish vibe. The collection bursts with prints, some inspired by Shaker workwear patterns. Stevens explains, “They were used to disguise dirt and stains and wear and tear on the garment, and we thought it was this really amazing crossover between something which is perceived as quite decorative, but then entering into this kind of functional application.” The profusion of graphic joy might take some time to fully appreciate, but from a distance, the small paisley patchwork, particularly, achieves a camouflaged effect.
One of the collection’s most compelling narratives, set to be further developed for fall, is subtly revealed in the first look. It features an Icelandic sweater crafted using yarns naturally dyed with locally harvested materials and hand-knitted by artisans in the north of the country. This concept of “rustic couture” is both aesthetically pleasing and culturally significant, as it serves to preserve traditional techniques in danger of disappearing, while simultaneously presenting a classic with harmonious and unexpected colors.
