Excuse the Diesel-related-ness of today.  It isn't a corporate takeover, but I've been meaning to follow up as to the outcome of Taro Horiuchi's collaboration with Diesel as he won the ITS Diesel prize at the ITS#6 competition held in Trieste, Italy last year (it seems apt to post about another one of Europe's design competitions as I'm flying out to Hyeres today...). 

From 22 finalists, only a handful won prizes and Horiuchi who graduated from the Royal Academy of Antwerp presented his 'Ancient Plastic Air' collection for ITS and bagged the Diesel Award getting him 50,000 Euros and an internship with Diesel creative director Wilbert Das.  As part of that, he has also created a five piece collection that is now available in Diesel stores worldwide.

Now I've always liked it when brands that are supposed to be in a 'casual' or 'streetwear' niche push the boat out a bit and I was definitely surprised when Horiuchi came up with designs that are very close to his original concept, combining futuristic fabrics, sportswear with African primitive religions and art pieces.  Yes, it's a menswear collection but I'm thinking the smallest sizes of what looks to be white leather relief trousers (I did indeed say 'white leather relief skinny trousers') would fit nicely.  It can be dodgy territory, dabbling with the idea of 'futuristic fashion' but I think Horiuchi does it with quiet confidence so that the clothes don't look overly gimmicky. 

These pieces are available at the Kings Road and Bond Street stores in London and I'm going to be praying my way into those trews...(get me, I'm on a roll with posts about WANTING trousers...)