Who doesn’t love a fashion collaboration? You take a brand that you’re already obsessed with and you combine it with something else you love to create something that is all but guaranteed to sell out in the blink of an eye. Tie-ins with celebrities, TV shows, bloggers and different brands are all great, but fashion and art collabs produce some of the most interesting stuff.
The fashion and art worlds are often blurred, but magic really happens when they combine. There’s a reason why artists and fashion designers have been working together for ages. Just think back to the iconic collaborations between Spanish Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí and fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli to more recent collabs like Louis Vuitton and Stephen Sprouse.
The best thing about art and fashion coming together is that it makes things slightly more accessible for those of us who don’t have the budgets to pick up original Picassos and Rembrandts. We may not be able to afford an artist’s one-of-a-kind masterpiece, but we can usually afford their wearable masterpieces. Scroll through the gallery above to see some of the most memorable fashion and art collaborations ever.
Top Designer Collaborations: When Fashion and Art Join Forces
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Damien Hirst and Alexander McQueen
The Alexander McQueen skull print scarves were one of the accessories of the 2000s, so it was going to take something special to make them even better. Fittingly, the British brand teamed up with Damien Hirst, the artist known for his diamond-encrusted human skull. The resulting collab was a series of mesmerizing scarves that sold out as fast as the originals.
Image: Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
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Keith Haring and Nicholas Kirkwood
Designer Nicholas Kirkwood’s shoes are already bold, but a collaboration with the Keith Haring Foundation took them to another eye-popping level. Kirkwood translated some of the late artist’s iconic works, like "Safe Sex", into footwear. What we ended up with were shoes that were anything but ordinary. The collection was filled with intricate heels, bold prints and neon colors.
Image: Courtesy of Nicholas Kirkwood
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Takashi Murakami and Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton has a knack for coming up with ingenious collaborations. There are a lot to choose from, but the Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami partnership just may be at the top of the list. The 13-year-long collab was one adorable accessory after another. When the first Murakami collaboration dropped in the 2000s, everyone became obsessed with the cute bags with anime drawings. Remember the Monogramouflage print, the Cherry Blossom purse and the Character bag? Not to mention that the 2003 Murakami Monogram Multicolore is now as classic as the brown and tan version.
Image: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
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Jeff Koons and H&M
Every H&M collaboration invokes pandemonium. (Just think back to the Balmain launch.) The Jeff Koons x H&M partnership was another one that had us buzzing. H&M originally released a bag decorated with Koons’ iconic "Balloon Dog" design in yellow to mark the opening of its flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Version 2.0 was released in 2014 to commemorate the first Koons exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, except this time it was available in pink.
Image: Courtesy of H&M
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Trevor Andrew and Gucci
Anything that Gucci's Creative Director Alessandro Michele comes in contact with turns into fashion gold. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that when Gucci teamed up with Trevor Andrew (aka GucciGhost, aka Trouble Andrew) it was a smashing success. The Brooklyn-based artist added his signature graffiti twist to Gucci pieces for the Fall 2016 collection. He even brought Gucci's iconic "GG" out of retirement.
Image: Courtesy of Gucci
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Takashi Murakami and Vans
Takashi Murakami has the honor of making the list twice thanks to his collaboration with Vans. Those of us who couldn't get one of the artist's iconic Louis Vuitton accessories could pick up shoes, T-shirts and even skateboard decks decorated with his fun anime characters thanks to the Vans partnership. The limited-edition collection included favorites like the smiling flower and skulls plus a sweet puppy logo.
Image: Courtesy of Vans
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Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton
If you weren’t familiar with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama before, you definitely were after her Louis Vuitton collab. It wasn’t just the clothes that got an injection of Kusama’s signature bold colors and polka dots. Louis Vuitton stores were given a whimsical makeover that even included life-like figures of Kusama.
Image: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
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Anselm Reyle and Christian Dior
A good collaboration can totally change how you view a brand. Christian Dior's Anselm Reyle partnership did just that. Prior to the collab, you knew what you were getting with a Dior bag. It would be a classic, timeless piece. The Berlin-based artist added his vibrant touch to the bags and turned the volume waaaay up with electric colors, contrasting stitches and multicolored camo print.
Image: Courtesy of Christian Dior
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Gary Baseman and Coach
Coach is one of those brands that pleases both art and fashion lovers alike with its collabs. Coach’s partnership with contemporary artist Gary Baseman also satisfied anyone who cannot resist adorable drawings. Baseman’s quirky cute characters decorated bags, sweaters, T-shirts and jewelry. Whimsical fans could not get enough of it.
Image: Courtesy of Gary Baseman
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Tracey Emin and Stephen Webster
One of the most recent launches to come out of the fashion and art worlds is from Tracey Emin and designer Stephen Webster. The longtime friends’ I Promise To Love You collection featured a mix of delicate bracelets, earrings and necklaces that you would want to wear every day. The good news is that if you love the range, you can still pick up a lot of the pieces.
Image: Courtesy of Stephen Webster
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René Magritte and Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony is the unofficial purveyor of all things cool. Just take a look at any one of its runway shows for proof. Opening Ceremony has had some interesting collabs, but the René Magritte range is up there on the list. The Surrealist painter’s fantastical work inspired a limited-edition collection in 2014. Art fans would have recognized "The Lovers" in the form of a shoe and they also would have seen "Shéhérazade" get the 3-D treatment on a dress.
Image: Courtesy of Opening Ceremony
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Rob Pruitt and Jimmy Choo
When Jimmy Choo teamed up with contemporary artist Rob Pruitt in 2012, the end products were a fashion girl’s dream come true. The shoes, bags and accessories were made for street style shots thanks to their eye-catching colors and prints. Pruitt’s bold aesthetic was the perfect pairing for a range of look-at-me accessories.
Image: Courtesy of Jimmy Choo
