Since Glenn Martens arrived at Y/PROJECT in 2014 as creative director, the Belgian designer has prided himself on eclecticism and versatility. The last few months have provided plenty of time to reflect on those themes and question the essence of a brand that has consistently married form and function, high fashion and streetwear, commercial and avante garde.

In lieu of a catwalk, for SS21, Martens presented a distillation of those ideas in video form. In a triptych of screens, models were dressed in looks that were then modified and tweaked, revealing the depth of versatility that has become Martens’ niche. In one look, a black oversize tracksuit metamorphoses into a creamer ensemble courtesy of some strategically placed snap fasteners. In another, a full denim look accompanied by a canvas tote is adjusted by two assistants and voila! The look is transformed as the tote becomes a shawl and the denim trousers are bunched just above the boot line.

Accompanying SS21 comes a new, eco-friendly chapter for the Paris-based label. Evergreen is a new line that will reinterpret some of Y/PROJECT’s core classics from previous seasons using organic and recycled fabrics, with a portion of the proceeds going to an ecological charity. Like the name suggests, these are timeless creations that will now stand up to the future.