Yesterday, goth-chic overlord Rick Owens briefly stopped the internet when he presented his Fall/Winter 2015 menswear show and, within it, a parade of full frontal male nudity. It pretty much set a new record for Most Creative Way to Highlight The Human Penis—at least as far as fashion shows go. While Owens has become a kind of master of making memorable runway moments (think back to his 2013 step dancers)—a true gift considering the fleeting nature of fashion shows—he truly outdid himself with this one.

Of course, as high fashion moments are wont to do, the presentation left a lot of questions about how the clothing would translate to the real world. Like, what kind of underwear do you wear underneath? Is there any place aside from the club and Pride that would be accepting of these styles? What trickle down effect will this have on menswear fashion as a whole? And, most importantly, what exactly was Rick Owens thinking when he designed these?

Well, we at least now know the answer to the last question. In an interview with i-D, Owens explained his ballsy move: "I thought it was the most simple, primal gesture—and you know I love a simply tiny, little gesture that packs the wallop."

Mission accomplished on that front (these puns are too easy). More interesting, though, is Owens' explanation of why he would want to create this kind of stir. "It's very powerful," he added. "Not many people can do that. I mean, it's a straight world now. And it also, I think, says something about being independent. Who else can really get away with that kind of stuff? It's a corporate world."

Unlike many of his peers, who've given away stakes in their companies to investors, Owens is in the rare position of not having to answer to anyone else. (This situation is one of the reasons his shows are always among the most compelling ones.) So, this decision was basically the equivalent of giving the middle finger to the man, and simultaneously, a humblebrag that he's in full control of his brand. Well played.