May 10, 2019 |
It’s been a news story that has been swirling throughout the fashion world for months now, but *finally* Rihanna’s luxury fashion brand Fenty is here – and the release date might be sooner than you might think, with BoF reporting that the star will be presenting her first collection in Paris later this month. With a slick new logo and a team of talented designers at the ready, Rihanna is a true trailblazer as she becomes the first woman to create an original brand for LVMH and first woman of colour at the top of an LVMH house. Fenty is set to release an SS19 sometime in the coming weeks and we’re fangirling already. It goes almost without saying that musicians have an influence on the fashion world, which extends much further than merely hawking disposable merchandise and the fashion juggernauts are chiming in on musical disrupters. Music sells. As Bad Gal Riri prepares to set the luxury fashion world ablaze, we celebrate five of the most memorable fashion-music crossovers…
Yeezy by Kanye West x Adidas
It would be criminal to discuss the foray of musicians into the fashion world without talking about Kanye. Under the Adidas umbrella, Mr West’s Yeezy label pioneered a stripped back visual aesthetic that was missing from the luxury market. His utilitarian outlook on crafted basic-wear – in a palette centred around sand, tan and khaki hues – challenged our preserved notions on what we consider luxe-clothing. Say what you will about the brand, there’s no questioning the Yeezy imprint on the fashion trends of today.
Mains by Skepta
Despite claiming he threw all his Gucci and Louis Vuitton garms in the bin on his 2014 hit That’s Not Me, it didn’t stop Skepta from launching himself into the fashion realm. After an array of highly sought after collaborations with Nike, the Mercury Prize winner launched his own label MAINS back in 2017. Staying true to his “Tracksuit Mafia” sentiment, Mains hones in on creating nylon staples perfect for every occasion.
Ivy Park
It would be treason to discuss singers making a foray into fashion design without mentioning the Queen Bey herself. Last month, it was announced that Ivy Park, the athleisure line co-founded by Beyoncé in 2016, would be relaunching. This comes after the multi-talented songstress bought out Topshop obtaining full ownership of the fitness brand – the first Black woman to be the sole owner of an athleisure label. Ivy Park has since partnered up with Adidas and is slated to release a selection of new products extending between lifestyle and performance wear that will undoubtably maintain Beyoncé’s stylistic touch. Think snug, sleek, and brightly-coloured basics that will have the additional backing of the Adidas technology ingrained in their fabrics. Leggings and casually slug sweatshirts to catch the drip as you hit the two-step in formation.
Chanel x Pharrell
Like fine wine, Chanel and Pharrell have managed to not only withstand the test of time but (somewhat miraculously) continue to evolve into fresh takes of the preceding version. The luxury label and creative polymath now have something else in common – a patched up, blinged out capsule collection. The late Karl Lagerfeld was no stranger to shaking up notions of what Chanel represents and what it might look like, so it’s fitting that the house would choose not a designer but a musician to take the lead for their first ever capsule line. Optical illusions reading ‘Chanel’ and ‘Pharrell’ simultaneously are engraved into chunky jewellery held together by metal chains or strands of pearls. Technicolor loafers, hoodies with boy scout patchwork, and sneakers are covered in a child-like script round out the offerings. It’s a collection for those with a youthful energy that knows no boundaries.
Golf Wang
Mark your calendars, the next Golf Le Fleur x Converse release drops May 17th. Rap’s favourite oddball Tyler, The Creator created Golf Wang in 2011 and has released plenty of psychedelic wear heavily influenced by skate culture under the brand since. He partnered with Converse a few years ago to create the first edition of the Golf Le Fleur One Star, a sneaker model featuring big floral outlines across the shoe in bold colourways like marigold, baby blue, and cherry red. The latest edition from the duo will be available in both a red and brown velvet option. There will also be a high top 70s Chuck Taylor featured in this drop, this version of the iconic sneaker coming in a purple quilted velvet.
*Honourable Mentions*
Travis Scott x Nike
Sneakerheads and hypebeasts around the globe eagerly await the release of Travis Scott’s Air Jordan 1, slated to drop this weekend. Featuring a reverse swoosh and brown leather uppers, the ‘Cactus Jack’ have been amongst the most talked about sneakers since the rapper debuted them during his grammy performance earlier this year.
AWGE
In addition to creating mesmerising visuals for singles like Plain Jane and Lookin’, Asap Rocky‘s creative agency AGWE also has a line of equally eye-catching apparel ranging from airbrushed sweatpants to printed bandanas. We can’t forget the bodega AWGE set up in the corner of Selfridges back in 2017, injecting a Harlem flavour into our London streets.
