This past February 6th, 2024, Lee® launched their super cool newest collaboration featuring the work of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Available globally, the Lee x Basquiat capsule blends legendary denim and groundbreaking art in unique styles for men and women. Bursting onto the New York City art scene in the ‘80s, Basquiat’s use of bright colors and striking graphics cemented him as a global cultural icon and left a lasting mark on the contemporary art world.
Similarly, Lee has been influencing the world of denim for 100 years, creating styles like the Lee Rider™ jacket, a true original that’s often copied, but never replicated.
Inspired by Basquiat’s unique sense of style and personality, the Lee denim silhouettes and coordinates act as the canvas to showcase his neo-expressionist artwork. Splatter-painted jeans, boldly-striped sweaters and crown-adorned denim jackets seamlessly blend with artwork like the “Warrior”, “Pez Dispenser” and more.
“Lee has always celebrated originality, and in our 100 years we’ve been part of American culture, especially the ‘80s around NYC,” said Brigid Stevens, global vice-president of marketing, Lee. “The Lee x Basquiat collaboration fuses art, style, and culture together to deliver pieces that are timeless and also unique – original icons made even more so with these iconic pieces of art.”
The Lee x Basquiat collection features men’s and women’s jackets and bottoms, tops, tees, sweaters. Highlights include:
Men’s Striped Blazer and Pant – A nod to the often paint-splattered suits that Jean-Michel Basquiat worked in, the ‘80s-inspired coordinates have white pinstripes down the outer lining and are tagged with Basquiat’s famous crown motif. Mixing vintage formalwear and streetwear, it’s an homage to the artist’s most notable look.
Women’s and Men’s Laser-Printed Denim –Denim jackets, a wide-leg overall for her and a carpenter jean for him are laser-printed with some of Basquiat’s most popular motifs, including his famous crown.
Men’s Denim Rider Jacket – This take on the original Lee Rider™ jacket reverses to showcase a print of Basquiat’s painting, “Phooey,” a piece about consumption, property, and where we as humans find ourselves among it all.
Men’s Long Sleeve Warrior Tee –This long sleeve cotton tee features Basquiat’s piece, “Warrior”, a self-portrait that depicted how Basquiat saw himself in the art world.
Women’s Striped Pez Dispenser Cardigan –This vintage-style sweater pulls its color scheme and bold stripes from Basquiat’s piece, “Pez Dispenser,” with the work featured as a patch on the front.
Women’s Cuffed Printed Carpenter Jean – The exaggerated cuffs feature mural drawings from some of Basquiat’s greatest muses, including sketchbook-style anatomy and his signature crown tag.
Women’s and Men’s Printed Sweaters –These sweaters are inspired by Basquiat’s works and how they were a visual shorthand for poetry about royalty, poverty, and life.
“Lee brought such a fresh perspective to Jean-Michel’s iconic artworks,” said David Stark, the Founder and President of Artestar, an international brand licensing and consulting agency representing the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. “We hope this collection will inspire a new generation of creatives.”
Price range is $65-$220. The collection is available on Lee.com and stores in Asia, Europe and North Carolina, US retailers Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters and European sites Zalando and Asos and boutiques like Killiwatch, London, and Craemer & Co.
Check out below the Lee x Basquiat campaign images
