Kanye West Wears “White Lives Matter” T-Shirt at ‘YZYSZN 9’ Show

Welcome to the 119th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we take a look at Ye’s highly controversial return to the fashion circuit, unveiling ‘YZYSZN 9’.

Ye, better known as Kanye West, debuted his latest runway collection in Paris on Monday night. The show was one of nine under the Yeezy Season label and has certainly sparked the most public outrage. Created in part with @hoodbyair’s Shayne Oliver, the event was a private showing limited to a mere 50 attendees, void of any major press outlets and controlled entirely by Ye himself.

After a 30-minute delay, West took centre stage to deliver an opening speech, looking upwards at three levels of guests. Dressed in all black, his t-shirt read “White Lives Matter” on the underside, in stark contrast to the front-facing graphic of Pope John Paul II. He began his six-minute rant, explaining his frustrations with the media’s negative perspectives and tunnel vision, before declaring Yeezy as an independent label that “will not be bullied, or treated differently than you treat any other fashion show”.

Ye finished by taking aim at the head of LVMH, stating “Bernard Arnault is my new Drake”, as he stepped out of the limelight. After nearly forty minutes, the show began, presenting “pull-off and pull-over” garments, in his words, “the future of clothing, no hardware”. The season was rather monochromatic and oversized, with focus on minimalist design and maximalist silhouettes.

Pieces were barren of graphics or distinct points of attraction, instead opting for profile and definition. Models were masked and consumed in geometric puffer jackets, including an appearance from @lalamichmich. While concise, it felt as if the products were secondary to Ye’s rebellious stance, a chariot to convey his conflicting views with the media.

The designer seems to have worn the WLM shirt to prove nobody would draw attention to the opposing graphic, tying in with his pre-show speech. Trending at #1 on Twitter, Ye has ignited the social fury he hoped for.