Ev Bravado and Téla D'Amore, semi-finalists for the 2024 LVMH Prize and finalists for the 2023 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, are known for their carefully crafted pieces, expert garment aging process, and recycled denim. With the collaboration with H&M, they continue to blur the line between fashion, art, and culture, further amplifying Jean-Michel Basquiat's legacy through prints, embroideries, and embroidered patches of his artwork on their signature silhouettes.
Basquiat is considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Inspired by his journey from street artist to household name, Bravado and D'Amore believe Basquiat's legacy serves as a daily reminder that there are no limits to what can be achieved.
H&M's latest collaboration with Ev Bravado and Téla D'Amore includes a 30-piece collection celebrating the legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Fusing Basquiat's iconic artwork with Bravado and D'Amore's expressive designs, the collection includes tailoring, denim and accessories, such as a bomber jacket featuring Ass Killer, 1984, and black leather trousers.
“For us, Basquiat has always been an influential and important figure. Being able to go through his archives and select works of art that are rarely mentioned is a blessing. The Basquiat estate has been extremely supportive of our unique vision. Offering this collection on a global scale with H&M makes it ten times more special because it will be widely accessible,” she says. Ev Bravado and Tela D'Amore.
“Ev and Téla have quickly become some of the most exciting voices in fashion, and we knew they would honor Jean-Michel’s vision while adding their own distinctive style to his work. A core tenet of his legacy is to empower and amplify young Black creatives, and through H&M’s global platform, we hope to inspire a new generation of artists to carry on his creative spirit,” says Basquiat’s estate, led by Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, sisters of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
The 30-piece collection includes tailoring, jackets, short-sleeved shirts, jeans, hoodies, T-shirts, and a dress, skirt, and corset top, as well as accessories. There’s a bomber jacket emblazoned with the designers’ vibrant Ass Killer, 1984 artwork and arched window embroidery, a black blazer featuring Basquiat’s doodles of jazz greats Charlie Parker and Miles Davis (Discography 1, 1984), and luxe black leather pants that reference the artworks Untitled (Ideal), 1988, and Untitled (World Famous), 1983. Other standout items include a unisex distressed denim jacket and matching jeans featuring Basquiat’s art enshrined in the recurring window design.
“Ev and Téla have translated Basquiat’s iconic art through a contemporary lens, resulting in a collection that feels fresh, meaningful and exciting. They also have a deep understanding and connection with Basquiat’s life, values and art, and how all of this resonates with the current cultural climate. This collection follows his maximalist, ‘the more, the more’ designs, but the artistic approach really connects with Basquiat and makes the collaboration stand out,” she says. Ana Hernandez, menswear designer at H&M.
Note: The content of this press release has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff.
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