The Hundreds Winter 2024 Collection is cold, to say the least. Filled with standout workwear pieces that feel both classic and revolutionary, creative director David Rivera and his team are showing their heavy influence on the future of the legacy Los Angeles streetwear brand. Two pieces from the cut-and-sew portion of the collection are particularly striking in their simplicity, though the longer you look at them, the more fascinating they become.

The Link Cable Vest and Link Nylon Sweatpants both employ a quilted construction, but this isn’t your grandma’s patchwork. Both garments feature a brand-new quilting technique developed by The Hundreds design team. The Link’s stitching resembles a chain-link fence, and according to Rivera, represents the “borders separating the lawn from the sidewalk.”

“They’re the barriers trying to hold us back,” he added. “We can either break ‘em or hop over ‘em.”

Fences are used to keep people out, and given how vulnerable and intense things have been feeling lately, I see the Link as a great symbol of protecting one’s peace. A bulletproof vest for the bullshit. Plus matching pants.

Quilted garments don’t only protect us metaphorically, though. They’ve been keeping us safe for thousands of years. An ivory carving dating back to the Egyptian First Dynasty in the 35th century BC portrays the Pharaoh rocking something quilted. Much later, European soldiers wore quilted garments under their armor throughout the Crusades to keep warm and add an extra layer of protection.

In modern times, clothes have become more an expression of our personality than a means to survive, but quilting still acts as a meaningful method of storytelling. The layered nature of quilted garments allows for added texture and “pop” in a piece, though the actual stitching technique hasn’t changed much over the centuries. Until now.

The Hundreds pushed the technique’s evolution forward and built the quilt entirely differently, flipping a foundational sewing method into something completely new.

“I’m used to military patterns — lines, diamonds, ovals — but we wanted to play with quilting as art,” Rivera said about the unique chain-link stitch, which isn’t the first time the brand has bucked tradition with quilting. Three years ago, The Hundreds 2021 Winter Collection featured a jacket that found the brand’s Adam Bomb mascot depicted in the stitching.

Supreme, LV, Stüssy, and other brands have all released pieces with unique quilt stitches but many just outline the company’s name or first letter. What’s beautiful about the Link Vest and Pants are the inspiration behind the pattern and the story they tell. We are all faced with barriers of adversity in our lives, whether big or small. And if we want to avoid getting stuck behind these fences forever, The Hundreds reminds us we must break through or hop over.

David Rivera offered some pro-tips for styling the Link set to make the most impact with your new statement pieces. “The vest is perfect over hoodies,” he said, adding “The pants are lightly filled, so there’s no layering needed.” If you’re like me, constantly talking yourself out of taking fashion risks for fear of doing too much, be not afraid. The Hundreds Creative Director said, “Matching the vest and pants totally works.” 

The Link Cable Vest and matching Sweatpants are available now, part of The Hundreds Winter 2024 Collection.