The Beauty in Destruction at Gabe Gordon SS26 “Autoerotic”
Gabe Gordon continues to explore the erotic undertones of Americana subcultures in his newest SS26 show, “Autoerotic.” Featuring a battered, broken, mud-covered wreck of a derby car, the show confronts the idea of destruction and the hidden beauty within the act. Is destruction not a form of creation in itself? Through chaos, rage, and excitement, we take that which already exists and reform it into something different, something entirely new. This is, ultimately, the question Gabe Gordon presents to the audience.
Photo: Emma McLoughlin
Photo: Emma McLoughlin
We have graduated beyond high school and drifted into the rugged, dangerous, and confusing world of post-adolescent masculinity. A turbulent world where sexuality and violence collide with one another like the mangled cars at a roller derby. Garments torn or ripped open in just the right places to expose a breast, hip, or torso, then stitched back together, creating an even stronger bond from the remaining pieces. Even the monotonous concept of the mechanic’s uniform is reimagined in a way that allows the carnal imagination to run wild.
Photo: Emma McLoughlin
Photo: Emma McLoughlin
There is resilience among the wreckage, in ingenuity, in putting oneself back together after surviving trauma. The process of healing, of regrowth can be just as painful and excruciating to bear as the destruction that caused it. Corsets resemble body casts, a mound of buttons forms a shell-like armor, and knitwear bandages wrap tightly around limbs. It is through this process that change, evolution, and metamorphosis can occur, allowing one to reemerge on the other side as an improved and streamlined version of themselves—something I believe we are watching in real time with this brand.
Photo: Emma McLoughlin
Photo: Emma McLoughlin
Photo: Emma McLoughlin
Photo: Emma McLoughlin
Photo: Emma McLoughlin