Introducing the Coach x Jean-Michel Basquiat collection.
It's a project that pays tribute to the artwork and incredible legacy of creator Jean-Michel Basquiat
This Coach collection includes a range of bags and clothing that features his recreations of iconic art pieces. You'll find Basquiat's signature motifs splayed across Coach handbags and tees. You'll his crowns, NYC skylines and even banana graphics created in his style and printed on Coach pieces. Slogans like 'famous' and 'New York' are imagined in his classic all-caps writing style and featured front and centre. It's a collection of statement pieces that say something - literally.
The global campaign for the collection stars some seriously big names. Jennifer Lopez, Michael B. Jordan, Paloma Elsesser, Jeremy Lin and Yang Zi, as well as beauty entrepreneur and Basquiat’s niece, Jessica Kelly are some of the most notable faces you'll see modelling key looks from the collection.
The campaign was created in collaboration with photographer Micaiah Carter and a global team of creatives including face of the campaign Paloma Elsesser and also Jon Batiste, Kyemah McEntyre, Diana Gordon, and photographers Fan Xin and Zhang Meng. Basquiat once said “be part of the family of artist" and this is the central theme of the campaign. The imagery is designed to tell the story of creative families - people united by shared beliefs and purpose. And it is this narrative that spotlights Basquiat’s vision activism through art.
The collection and it's campaign introduces Basquiat’s artwork and values to a new generation through the lens of family, those we’re born into and those we choose.
“Basquiat is one of my heroes,” said Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers.
“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 increating this collection and campaign.”
“We really love this collection from Coach,”said Jeanine Basquiat, sister of Basquiat, on behalf of the artist’s family.
“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 isa dream project for us.”
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Celebrating the campaign, is a series of short films which you can find on the Coach Instagram account. They feature the cast who discuss the importance of family, art and Basquiat’s legacy, inviting community members to join the conversation.
The collection actually debuted on the runway last February as part of Coach’s Fall 2020 collection. It's available for purchase in Australian in October 2020 through the Coach website.
