ERL proposes a new concept of 'surplus'

From his studio in Venice Beach, Eli Russell Linnetz once again challenges the boundaries between archive, memory and contemporary fashion with “SURPLUS”.

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Inspired by legendary surplus stores—those dusty temples of American excess where forgotten uniforms found new lives—the collection reinterprets military imagery from a Californian perspective, poetic and surreal.

‘Surplus’ is presented as an exercise in cultural reconstruction: garments that are born from the deconstruction of the past and, when reassembled, take on a new identity. Each piece embodies the spirit of reuse, art and contradiction: the rigid becomes fluid, the institutional becomes synonymous with freedom.

The result is a truly authentic collection, in true ERL style. Hand-dyed fleece linings in faded khaki and deep olive tones reveal vivid textures, while handcrafted patchwork transforms vintage camouflage into armour for self-expression. Tank and aircraft graphics are printed on aged cottons by artisans in Venice Beach to achieve that nostalgic touch so characteristic of the brand.

Donegal wool jumpers feature military-inspired intarsia motifs, hand-knitted with the deliberate imperfection that characterises Eli Russell Linnetz‘s universe. No two garments are alike: every seam, every mark and every irregularity gives the designs a special uniqueness.