To celebrate the upcoming exhibition, Browns are taking Basquiat out of the gallery and putting his works back on the street where they belong, with help from New York Streetwear brand Rome Pays off. The capsule collection, which launched mid-September, is viewable online, and it's pure urban wear.
Basquiat's Mona Lisa, originally painted in 1983, grimaces gaudily on a skateboard. His cryptic phrases come in t-shirt and hoodie form. His early graffiti was written under the moniker SAMO©. You can buy the SAMO© FOR THE SO-CALLED AVANT-GARDE t shirt for £90, while the white leather canvas sneakers, covered in artwork, are £225. You'll find decorated denim and sweatshirts, too.
Considering what a huge market there is for intelligent streetwear, this is a genius collaboration. Art-inspired skateboards are a 'thing' now - Grayson Perry sold a Duchess of Cambridge-inspired 'Kateboard' at his Serpentine Exhibition over the summer. But, most importantly, this project - commercial as it may be - retains the essence of the young graffiti artist and his subculture.
What | Jean-Michel Basquiat X Browns |
Where | Browns Fashion, 24-27 S Molton St, London, W1K 5RD | MAP |
Nearest tube | Bond Street (underground) |
When |
15 Sep 17 – 30 Sep 17, Shop online 24/7 |
Price | £££ |
Website | Click here to buy it |