Dear Shaded viewers,
Age of Digital is ready to disrupt the world of design. Founded by Osman Mercan, a French-born creative with Turkish heritage, the new brand is grounded on the principle that fashion, art, music, design and technology no longer need to be strictly defined or locked into their traditions. Driven by freedom, AOD dares to break through elitist spaces, presenting the idea that everything is possible.
Osman Mercan established AOD after a decade of co-running TMBA, a video production company that led him to projects such as artistic direction for French rapper Laylow. By bypassing formal training, he has been able to see between the lines in all his creative pursuits. With AOD, he aims to expand on this ethos more significantly than ever before. After years of experience channelling visual identity in the hip-hop industry, he is translating his aesthetic codes into a wider realm of art, fashion and design. He hopes to encourage his audience to manifest their wildest ideas and bring all possibilities into reality.
For its debut, AOD presents a highly limited capsule collection of wardrobe staples, a mere taste of what’s to come. A zipped hoodie and workwear pants in heavy French terry (470g) are elevated everyday classics that make no compromise on comfort, while a t-shirt in heavy cotton (330g) lays the foundation for personal style that dares to go beyond basic.
Each garment is hand-finished with metal studs, asymmetrical edges, and a dry wash that give them a clean, avant-garde touch. The AOD logo, a symbol of rebellion, is subtly embroidered with other details and engraved onto personalized rivets. The pieces will all be numbered, a reminder that this collection is only the beginning.
In addition to the capsule collection, AOD debuts with a chair. As a staple object, the chair serves as a blank canvas to break free from design tradition in function and aesthetics. AOD has cast a chair entirely from aluminium. While solid in form, its organic silhouette and softly carved negative spaces evoke the fluidity of mercury. Hand polishing on every surface gives the chair a natural textured appearance, representing the fine line between man-made and the natural world. Produced in France, the chair will be highly limited and each piece will be numbered and unique.
The AOD debut capsule collection and chair will be available online. In 2025, AOD will expand its universe with a series of design objects and ready-to-wear pieces.
Later,
Eliya