Jil Sander Unleashes ‘The Tiger Project’ – WWD

Jil Sanders is releasing a limited edition capsule called ‘Project Tiger’ to mark the Chinese Year of the Tiger, which begins February 1.

Consisting of just six items, the collection features a simple palette of black and cream. Each piece is decorated with watercolors representing the tiger in various poses – a highlight of traditional Chinese art that lends a soft, painterly character to rigid forms.

An oversized t-shirt and merino sweater, for example, depict a tiger from behind calmly observing its surroundings. Meanwhile, a front frame snaps and the silk carp depicts it in a more dynamic state: crouched, eyes fixed on prey, ready to pounce.

So what do the tiger and the German brand have in common? At first thought, not much. The cat’s signature orange and black stripes are often used by fashion to signal brazen sex appeal – something that is not in Jil Sander’s dictionary as a cornerstone of minimalist elegance.

However, in Chinese culture, the tiger is prized for its grace as well as its ferocity. It never backs down from a challenge, showing courage in the face of adversity. Whether on the runway or in the jungle, sometimes discretion reaps the greatest rewards. Project Tiger will be available to shop online and through select Jil Sander stores.