New York-based designers Ev Bravado and Tela D’amore of Who Decides War bring their unique aesthetic to a new collaboration between the Jean-Michel Basquiat estate and retailer H&M. The collection, consisting of 30 pieces, features chic tailoring, jackets, short-sleeve shirts, jeans, hoodies, t-shirts, and women’s wear including a dress, skirt, and corset top, along with various accessories. Highlights include a bomber jacket adorned with the vibrant artwork “Ass Killer, 1984” and embroidery of the designers’ signature arched window, a black blazer embellished with Basquiat’s scribbles about jazz legends Charlie Parker and Miles Davis (Discography 1, 1984), and luxurious black leather trousers referencing “Untitled (Ideal), 1988” and “Untitled (World Famous), 1983.” Other standout pieces are the unisex distressed denim jacket and matching jeans, featuring Basquiat’s art framed within the recurring window design.
In press materials, Ev Bravado and Tela D’amore expressed their inspiration for the collection: “For us, Basquiat has always been an influential and larger-than-life figure. To be able to comb through his archives and select rarely referenced artworks is a blessing. The Basquiat estate has been super supportive of our unique vision. Providing this collection on a worldwide scale with H&M makes it ten times more special because it will be largely accessible.”
The collection, priced between $21 for hats and $360 for leather pants, will be available at hm.com and in select stores starting August 1st, 2024.
