LEE X BASQUIAT COLLECTION CELEBRATES WORK OF ICONIC 1980s ARTIST

Last week, iconic denim brand Lee dropped its Lee X Basquiat capsule, combining denim with an art world icon.

Bursting onto the New York City art scene in the 1980s, 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. Inspired by the artist’s unique sense of style and personality, the Lee denim silhouettes and coordinates act as a 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, and sweaters. Highlights include a men’s striped blazer and pant, a denim Rider jacket featuring a Basquiat painting (“Phooey,” a piece about consumption, property, and where we as humans find ourselves among it all), and a long sleeve “Warrior” tee.

“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.”

Retail prices range from $65 to $220. The collection is available on Lee.com and the company’s owned stores in Asia, Europe, and North Carolina, as well as at US retailers Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters, European sites Zalando and Asos; and boutiques like Killiwatch, London, and Craemer & Co.