It’s Almost Summer! What’s Cooking, Ulysses King?

The Question: After the huge success of Ulysses King‘s Contempo 70s Holiday 2011 Collection, how did he top himself for his 35-piece Premiere Summer 2012?

The Answer: He took his drawing board under the sea.

Narcosis: An Altered Consciousness

Ulysses King brings his drawing board underwater and derives inspiration from the colours of the deep and the consciousness-altering culture of scuba diving. He named the collection “Narcosis.”

By definition, Narcosis is a reversible phenomenon with effects and susceptibility varying widely  from dive to dive and amongst individuals. Its effects range from a feeling of tranquility and serenity, to perception disturbance, vertigo and hallucination—depending on the physical elements working at different depths. Homer and Hippocrates describe Narcosis as a “temporary alteration of sense of movement, numbness.” It is completely reversed with no long-term effects. Tolerance is never developed, but coping is learned as long as the diver is aware of its manifestation.

Ulysses King’s Summer 2012 Collection revolves around this concept of “altered consciousness” that is adaptable, high-spirited, instinctive and playful. The Narcosis collection evokes a sense of high-octane recreation that is developed into a lifestyle framed only by one’s depiction of his environment; in this case, underwater.

Ulysses speaks to both men and women this time, a surprising turn from his customary menswear-only designs, with bases of blue, white and stripes, accented by neon pink, apple green, tartan and artwork prints. The daubs of neon mimic the colourful marine life and coral formations in the ocean.

The overall mode of the collection is sports-based that springs into diverse beach clothing, streetwear and casual wear. The assortment comes in various construction and textures of cotton, lycra, spandex and dri-fit fabric made into heterogeneous shorts, tanks and shirts, swimsuits and sweatpants. Lightweight cropped jackets and the perennial hoodie paired with athletic trousers bursting with details and colours make up the casual look.

Ulysses King’s Narcosis Collection conjures up an image of an elevated style consciousness when one adapts to his environment and instinct—all woven into a lifestyle that is always evolving.

All photos courtesy of Teddy Manansala (The Manansala Portfolio).