Coach x Jean-Michel Basquiat, a celebration of downtown New York
If there was one thing that was unmistakably evident from a quick glimpse of the Coach Fall/Winter 2020 runway, it was creative director Stuart Vever’s agenda to transport New York back to its bustling ’80s era.
Fittingly held within the lofty ceilings of a hidden downtown warehouse on Manhattan’s 12th Avenue, Vever nailed the retro vibe by putting together a decidedly youthful show that not only spotlighted the Big Apple’s free-spirited attitude but also the house’s legacy in leathercraft.
The range exhibited a raw and graphic expression of joyful independence, treating the audience to a delightful palette of vivid primary colours and abstract geometric prints on apparel ranging from oversized statement outwear, day dresses to snap-front midi skirts.
The down-to-earth ease of the flat-flat shoes and CitySole sneakers alongside the youthful reimagination of the Legacy Stripe artfully complement while also accentuating the New York-centric collection’s contemporary bent.
Amidst the crafty combination of clashing hues and dynamic silhouettes, the extraordinary artwork of the legendary Jean-Michel Basquiat was hard to miss.
The late American artist is widely considered to be one of the most prominent of his kind and his works of art have been a pivotal source of inspiration for the fashion scene. According to Vevers, “Basquiat is the ultimate cultural icon and a symbol of the unorthodox creativity that is nurtured in a place like New York.”
The partnership with Basquiat’s estate saw his most distinctive motifs making an appearance across the eclectic collection.
This included some of the graffiti prodigy’s critically acclaimed masterpiece such as the 1984 signature Pez Dispenser of a dinosaur wearing a three-point crown and Mecca featuring the Empire State Building—all emblazoned on sweatshirts, blanket-style wool scarves as well as the new, structured mini box bag which is shaped as stackable city blocks.
And to celebrate the launch of this collaboration, Coach created a dedicated fashion campaign starring faces of the house Jennifer Lopez, Michael B. Jordan, Jeremy Lin and Yang Zi, as well as beauty entrepreneur and Basquiat’s niece, Jessica Kelly, and other members of the extended Coach family.
Shot by Micaiah Carter and a global collective of creatives including Paloma Elsesser, Jon Batiste, Kyemah McEntyre, Diana Gordon, and photographers Fan Xin and Zhang Meng, the campaign tells the story of family values (that reflects Coach's Fall/Winter 2020 campaign), as well as highlights the the spirit and energy of Jean-Michel’s work.
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