“We’re really going back to our roots.”
The fashion world often hears this phrase, but it resonates sincerely when voiced by Yoon Ahn. After she and her partner Verbal reclaimed ownership of Ambush in April of the previous year, they redirected the brand’s production to Japan. This move aimed to enhance quality control and, as Ahn describes it, allow them to “be more real”.
Ahn found inspiration in the book Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, a 1992 bestseller that delves into reconnecting with instinctual female power. In Tokyo, where Ahn resides, there is a noticeable tension between societal expectations and natural instincts. She notes, “Japanese people are really in their heads, especially in the city, because there are so many unwritten rules we need to follow. Because of that, the city is like a well-oiled machine, and everything is functioning, but when you’re in it, I feel like it drives all that energy up to your head.”
Ahn infused this tension—or perhaps liberated it—into her latest collection, which merges the edgy vibe of urban life with items suitable for a mountain rescue mission. She focused extensively on modularity, designing pieces with extra zips and fastenings, allowing pants to be converted into shorts or adjusted for better ventilation. A standout piece was a reversible MA-1 bomber crafted from soft nylon, paired with a striking skirt featuring thigh-high buckles. In Ambush’s world, combat boots and heeled mules coexist seamlessly. As Ahn describes it, “Seamless.”
The collection also drew on primal influences, evident in a jacket adorned with a painted wolf, vibrant camo prints, and furry accents on bag straps. The color palette transitioned between natural and industrial tones: oxidized copper, wet concrete, and mossy green, accented with cobalt. Ahn explained, “I wanted to bring those more energetic colors to give a little sprinkle of spice.”
Both intelligent and edgy, the collection re-energized the spirit that propelled the brand to prominence in the 2010s, while also reimagining it for today. “In the past, there was a little bit of a disconnect where fashion kind of lived in a fantasy,” Ahn reflected. “Now I think I want to be more in my body.” These insightful words resonate with stylish women everywhere.
