Together with Téla D’Amore and Ev Bravado, two New York-based fashion designers, H&M has unveiled a collection honoring the legacy of renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
The collection, which is now available at hm.com and in some locations, combines the famous iconography of Basquiat with the characteristic stained glass themes and expressive designs of Bravado and D’Amore.
The legendary 20th-century artist Jean-Michel Basquiat went from being a street artist to becoming a well-known artist. Bravado and D’Amore, who were chosen semi-finalists for the 2024 LVMH Prize and finalists for the 2023 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, find great inspiration in Basquiat’s work and see his path as a monument to innovation and self-expression.
“By applying a modern perspective to Basquiat’s famous artwork, Eve and Téla have created a collection that seems fresh, significant, and captivating. They also have a strong connection to and comprehension of Basquiat’s life, morals, and artwork, as well as how all of it relates to the current state of culture. H&M menswear designer Ana Hernandez stated, “This collection adheres to their maximalist,’more is more’ designs, but the artistic approach really ties into Basquiat and makes the collaboration a standout.”
A variety of products are included in the 30-piece collection, such as dresses, skirts, corset tops, t-shirts, jeans, hoodies, and fitted jackets. Highlights include an embroidered version of the designers’ arched window pattern and a bomber jacket with Basquiat’s vivid artwork Ass Killer (1984).
Basquiat’s annotations from Discography 1 (1984) on jazz greats Miles Davis and Charlie Parker are displayed on a black jacket. Basquiat’s Untitled (Ideal) (1988) and Untitled (World Famous) (1983) are referenced in the opulent black leather pants, and his artwork is displayed in the recurrent window design with a worn denim jacket and matching jeans.
We knew that Eve and Téla would respect Jean-Michel’s vision while infusing his creations with their own unique styles, as they have swiftly emerged as two of the fashion industry’s most fascinating voices. The Basquiat estate, which is managed by Jean-Michel Basquiat’s sisters Lisane and Jeanine Heriveaux, stated that “a key component of his legacy is to empower and amplify young black creatives. Through H&M’s global platform, we hope to inspire a new generation of artists to carry on his creative spirit.”
