January 20, 2018 – Is it good? Well it’s never good enough for Justin Great. The energy was sky high on Friday night as people flooded into the Justin Great Season 2 Launch Party. Hosted at Urban Mix in Denver, the party was bound to come alive with food, drinks, music, dancing, and fashion.
New to the Denver scene but not a rookie when it comes to the fashion scene, Justin wanted to leave his mark with his newest line. The main style idea his clothing reflects is streetwear. I was initially intrigued by this because I’m quite invested in the streetwear culture myself. Not only this, but streetwear isn’t as prominent in Denver as it is in New York or LA – places Justin has worked before. The unique ideas surrounding streetwear create shifts in culture and allow people to be creative and open when it comes to expressing their style. Streetwear normally aims at both comfort and individuality – an appealing combination to many people interested in the realm of fashion. It is continually evolving and new concepts are introduced regularly to allow a diverse style to come to life.
Overall, my favorite concept from his work is the idea of a more unisex line that is simple and effortless. Streetwear can generally be made for both men and women because of the oversized fit and gender neutral designs. These cropped crewneck sweaters were simple and understated in the best way. With the slogan “GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT,” an encapsulating quotation that his line heavily revolves around, it kept it interesting and unique while still being effortless. These pieces are easy to wear, something Great was striving for when creating this line. When asked what one overarching statement was that really captured the essence of his line, Great said, “[it’s] Effortless. You can put it on and you don’t have to think.” This concept was quite popular with the crowd too. People loved the idea of an easy-to-throw-on piece that complements any outfit.
My personal favorite was the “White T-Shirt.” The white-on-white with the basic white scoop neck tee was genius. Sometimes less is more and this piece made that evident. The simplicity of this shirt is what gives it meaning. This piece is easy to throw on but will add extra detail to an outfit in substitution to a plain white shirt. I could definitely see the influence of other notable streetwear brands in this specific piece. Justin Great could pick out many different brands he identifies with but the three he rocks with the most are Ralph Lauren, Greg Lauren, and Off-White. An essential combination, these three brands/designers seem to influence Justin’s own pieces.
The event itself was an interesting concept that shed a new light on fashion events in Denver. The show was prerecorded in a concrete basement and projected on a screen on loop. Instead of the traditional show, this spin on it was new and refreshing to see. Though I would have enjoyed watching people sport the clothes in person, this alternative was creative, something that captured the attention of the viewers. The visuals matched the rest of the Justin Great vibe, simplistic and aesthetically pleasing. I will have to admit, this idea won me over even though I wasn’t so sure about it to begin with.
Once again, matching the general aesthetic of Justin Great, the logo was clean, professional, and sharp. I appreciated the look because it could easily one day be an iconic logo, one that is recognized whenever it’s seen. The quality of his denim products was unmatchable. The stitching and line work was nearly immaculate and the designs were innovative and creative.
I couldn’t have been more impressed with the uniqueness of the event. Justin opted to not only create an impressive clothing line, he hosted an interactive affair as well. A local dance group wowed the crowd with an energetic routine. Cheers echoed through the room as people were astonished by the moves this group had. Happening about midway through, Justin knew this would get the people in even higher spirits. It worked. The people loved it and it elevated the event to an even higher standard. Justin, being a man of many talents, decided to share another aptitude he possessed. He performed a new song that he had just released. I was so impressed with the drive and work ethic he had to not only limit himself to one area of creation, but to expand on many others.
The Justin Great Season 2 release event was one for the books. Between his awe-inspiring clothing line and ability to throw a killer show, he really did it all. I will be sure to look out for more clothing and events by Great in the future. Congratulations on such a successful turn out, Justin!
-Sydney
More photos from the event:
