I’m heading to Milan men’s week next week for the first time ever and right now I’m most excited to see the new Laitinen collection. There’s nothing in the world really like Laitinen pieces — I’m a huge fan and think Tuomas and Anna Laitinen, siblings and co-conspirators, are straight-up brilliant. They’ve yet to be bought by an American retailer, but the five-season-strong label is already a mainstay at luxury retailers in Paris such as Maria Luisa and Tokyo power retailer Midwest.

I’ve been following Tuomas’ career for years, since we were on the Central St. Martins MA together. Some of my favorite Laitinen SS09 pieces:

And AW08 men’s and women’s:

The SS08 collection was definitely this label’s break-out season. The prints and fringe were To. Die. For.