Coach x Jean-Michel Basquiat Capsule Collection

2020 really has been the year for both creativity and activism.  Covid has forced all of us to find new ways to share and collaborate over creative projects so our brains didn’t get stagnant during the lockdown – and might have proved to be a good warm-up for what seems to be imminent.  Activism went through the roof as the world finally put their foot down and took to the streets to demand social and racial justice.  If ever there was an artist who embodied those two fundamental principles of human life Jean-Michel Basquiat was that man.  New York founded luxury brand Coach drew from those wells to create a new capsule collection featuring the great man’s artwork for A/W2020.

Basquiat is one of my heroes.  He embodied the creative, inclusive spirit of New York and was a force for change in his community.  I am proud to celebrate his work and values and help bring them to a new generation.  I’m also incredibly grateful for the support and trust given to me by Basquiat’s family, and would like to thank them for their help in creating this collection and campaign. – Stuart Vevers, Creative Director, Coach.

In fact, Coach has so much support from the Basquiat family that Jessica Kelly, beauty entrepreneur and Basquiat’s niece, appears in the campaign for the new collection alongside long-time brand ambassador Michael B. Jordan, newest ambassador Jennifer Lopez, former New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets (naturally) basketball star Jeremy Lin and Chinese actress Yang Zi.  Together they tell a story of creative families coming together to distill their energy into one project for the world.

We really love this collection from Coach.  They did a great job in capturing the spirit and energy of Jean-Michel’s work and putting together a perfect group of creative talent to bring this to life.  We’ve always been fans of Coach, so this is a dream project for us. – Jeanine Basquiat, sister of Basquiat, on behalf of the artist’s family.

To accompany the release of the collection and the new campaign, Coach also commissioned a series of short films that revolve around social issues and the importance of family, art and Basquiat’s legacy to the world, told through the voices of the ambassadors and other important members of the artistic and creative communities.  It’s always been said that fashion at this end of the scale can resemble live, walking art shows.  With Coach’s Basquiat collection never has that sentiment been more true.

For more information on the eCoach x Jean-Michel Basquiat Capsule Collection click here.

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