Keith Haring Collaborations

Keith Haring and the Keith Haring foundation have done a lot of collaborations throughout the years. This inspired me for the big idea on how it’s possible to change a boring product into something more unique and inspiring- influenced by a trend (or in Haring case, his style of art). (Keith Haring Foundation- an organization that provides assistance to not-for-profit charities providing research, education related to AIDS, and resources to those affected by the disease.)

Designer Olympia Le-Tan has collaborated with the Keith Haring foundation. Offering a variety of handbags with Haring signature art on. I really love this collection as they look very stylish and bold, they are on the pricey side so not suitable for everyone, however i would love to own one as i feel like it's a piece you would keep forever. “Haring’s work is so fun and colorful. It looks naive yet it’s very political, which is why I like it so much. I thought this would be a good capsule to complement our Fall collection, Framed, which was about the art world.” - http://www.vogue.com/13461576/olympia-le-tan-keith-haring-bags/

Chloë Sevigny holding Olympia Le-Tan's new Keith Haring collection of bags. 

A very popular collaboration was DKNY and the Keith Haring foundation. They feature his iconic style on the bottle and box. ‘’They’re not only visually compelling, but they communicate a message that I think everyone can relate to’’, ‘’wearable art that’s young, urban and totally original’’ – Donna Karan. 

Clarisonic partnered up with the Keith Haring foundation and bought out this iconic product. ‘’We're really happy with them, and to share Keith Haring art and message of compassion with everyone’’ – Dr Robb (co-founder). This is not a product/ brand you would ever image Keith Haring’s foundation collaborating with, however it worked and went down amazingly. This is very inspiring to me as originally the product looked quite boring, however now with this design it has made way more exciting and meaningful- this is what i am trying to achieve for my big idea. 

Nicholas Kirkwood- a footwear designer has collaborated with the Keith Haring Foundation

On the shoes includes Harings signature patterns, like ‘Safe Sex’ and ‘Radiant Baby’ in a bold, playful way. ''I didn’t just want to use his graphic patterns to create all-over prints as that seemed a very obvious approach, instead, I wanted the art to shape the shoes. For example, there’s one shoe that references a portrait of Andy Warhol. It was quite difficult to work out how to do it, because if we’d put the face on the front of the shoe it would have been completely distorted. Putting it onto the side of a wedge and building in a platform was the only way to do it, so the face was as flat as possible.'' “He had this fun, playful way of drawing, but there is a very serious message behind it all, like the ‘Crack is Wack’ work. Some messages are more obvious than others, but the overall simplicity of it makes it very accessible.- Nicholas Kirkwood

http://www.vogue.com/869047/in-his-shoes-nicholas-kirkwoods-store-launch-and-visit-to-the-brooklyn-museum/

Toms has partnered with the Keith Haring Foundation. The collection includes three footwear styles for men and women and glasses inspired by Haring’s signature style. Toms is a very affordable brand, so it's available for a variety of people, whereas some of the more expensive examples above will only be suitable for a certain consumer; they are also very wearable.

These are a range of examples where a product has been turned into something more creative and innovative while being inspired by a style- similarly what i have to do for the Big Idea and Creative Concept. All these brands that have created a product in collaboration with the Keith Haring foundation which all look create and promote a good message and foundation. I love how they have collaborated with a range of high end and high street brands as it means a variety of consumers can get something whether they have a higher budget or lower.  

Thank you for reading

Charlotte

Studio 54 trend - Icons

For my summative project we all got given a trend, my trend is Studio 54. At first I recognised the name for being a popular disco nightclub, however, I didn't realise it was a fashion trend. 

Studio 54 has now adapted into a key fashion trend this A/W 16/17, which is disco wear, with edge and glam. The designers making garments inspired by this trend have been combining a range of materials, patterns, silhouettes and colours to create the statement pieces- just like what Studio 54 goers wore. The colour palette consists of both darks and lights, including purples, reds and black. Metallic, glitter and bold prints are popular within this trend to create a sexy, edgy outfit.

Liza Minnelli                                                             Grace Jones

These are very iconic images I've been seeing while researching about the trend. As you can see both of the outfits have lots of textures and glitter, and are both purple. I've seen a lot of purple so its definitely a colour that represents the Studio 54. 

Bianca Jagger                                                     David Bowie

David Bowie' fashion extremely influenced the Studio 54 trend with his individual, bold and creative style. His feminine shirts, jumpsuits, makeup, bright blazers and vibrant red hair defiantly  

  made the 70s/80s disco style how it was.

I'm going to do another post on the studio 54 trend nowadays, so we can see the similarities and differences between what these icons are wearing what's currently selling.

Thank you for reading

Charlotte

Studio 54 - connections

For my summative project i need to report about the context behind Studio 54. I've been looking into many different things, like celebrities, tv/film and artist which feel like have been inspired by Studio 54. 

1. The Get Down 

A new TV series called ‘The Get Down’ has recently came on Netflix. The show is based in 1977, New York City where the talented and soulful youth of the South Bronx chase dreams to transform the music history. From this show recently coming out it has defiantly inspired this generation to be interested In the disco trend. Ezekiel- one of the main characters says ‘’don’t push me to be who you want me to be, nobody’s asking want I want to be’’. This suggests to me that the film shows a message of being who you truly are, similarly to Studio 54, perhaps everyone loved it because they felt free and themselves.

2. Keith Haring

Keith Haring was an artist who I feel like inspired this trend. His trademark style was inspired by street culture and has been used in many different ways. Himself and now the Keith Haring foundation work with a lot of people and brands, including Rihanna’s music video ‘Rude boy’, the video is very influenced by Haring’s black and white illustration and the 80s, it consists of bold lines and bright colours. 

This illustration has also been used on Grace Jones, when Haring painted her body. For the video of her song 'I’m Not Perfect' and her live performance at New York City’s Paradise Garage, Jones wore Haring’s signature pattern as an outfit. 

3. Boogie Night

''Adult film director Jack Horner is always on the lookout for new talent and it's only by chance that he meets Eddie Adams who is working as a busboy in a restaurant. Eddie is young, good looking and plenty of libido to spare. Using the screen name Dirk Diggler, he quickly rises to the top of his industry winning awards year after year. Drugs and ego however come between Dirk and those around him and he soon finds that fame is fleeting.''

This film is clearly inspired by Studio 54, in the trailer a it says ''in 1977 a kid from nowhere, had a dream of getting somewhere'' ''it was a time when disco was king, sex was safe, pleasure was a business and business was booming''- this is round about when Studio 54 was at its busiest, they then go on to saying ''in 1980 the party was over'' - this is when Studio 54 shut down so it obviously symbolises that.

4. Saturday Night Fever

''A Brooklyn teenager feels his only chance to succeed is as the king of the disco floor. His carefree youth and weekend dancing help him to forget the reality of his bleak life''.

- again this is symbolic to Studio 54, it shows that then they're on the dance floor they forgot about there worries. perhaps this is why Studio 54 was so popular.

I feel like all these different aspect really bring together Studio 54. They all inspired different parts of it, and bring together the disco industry; especially 'The Get Down'' as thats bringing back disco today.

Thank you for reading 

Charl