In a desperate attempt to get somebody like me to pay attention to them, DKNY has allied themselves with the ridiculously talented Paul Pope. Pope, for the uninitiated among you, has done a ton of comic and illustration work, including two most excellent Vertigo limited series, Heavy Liquid and 100%.
The new line is to be called 2089. From the press release:
The scene is New York City, circa 2089, 100 years from the date of DKNY’s creation. The story, like much of Pope’s influential work, sets a futuristic love story against the collision of nature and industry. The prints are updated camouflage, and the graphics on tees, jackets and hoodies melds sci-fi with the prehistoric.
Prepare for pop art clothing alchemy, in other words. I’ll see if I can wrestle some images from somewhere when they become available–because this I gotta see. Well played, DKNY.
Full press release after the jump. Full image here. Paul’s blog here.
NEW YORK, March 10 /PRNewswire/ — DKNY Jeans announces today a new collection co-designed by famed graphic novelist Paul Pope called 2089. The line fuses the world of comics and fashion by creating a cohesive narrative which emerges through prints and graphics on clothing to create a truly unique application of this art form.
The scene is New York City, circa 2089, 100 years from the date of DKNY’s creation. The story, like much of Pope’s influential work, sets a futuristic love story against the collision of nature and industry. The prints are updated camouflage, and the graphics on tees, jackets and hoodies melds sci-fi with the prehistoric.
DKNY Jeans president Kevin Monogue says, “Working with an exciting artist like Paul on something so unique to the market keeps DKNY Jeans connected to our consumer’s interests and also allows us to offer him innovative products and ideas. Identifying two mediums that have similar aesthetics and developing ways to meld them is part of the DNA of the DKNY Jeans brand. We are really excited about 2089.”
Paul Pope is equally enthused, “I see this line as a way of stealing Pop back from Warhol. We’ve seen comics endlessly pillaged in the high art world and adapted to film, for better or worse. We’ve seen comics images quoted in fashion and copied in street art. Comics has a cultural currency all its own. But this is maybe the first time an actual cartoonist has been given the chance to launch his own brand, to build it from concept on up, to do it within the bounds of an established label such as DKNY Jeans. ”
The 15 piece collection is comprised of jackets, hoodies, pants and tee shirts, which tell different segments of the story. The graphics on the pieces vary from all over prints to one statement piece, to a new take on camouflage. The line retails from $32 for tees, to $145 for a military jacket. They will be sold in Department stores across the country beginning September 2008.
About DKNY JEANS:
DKNY Jeans is a lifestyle denim brand which is owned and distributed through a licensed agreement with Liz Claiborne, LLC. DKNY Jeans designs and markets collections for men’s, women’s and juniors apparel and is available in the US, Canada and South America via wholesale channels.
About Paul Pope:
It’s been said if comics were a rock band, Paul Pope — complete with pouty lips, pipe-cleaner legs, and shaggy Jagger haircut — would be its front man.
A popular American artist, Pope began working for Kodansha, Japan’s biggest and best-known manga publisher, in 1995. He is currently the only American artist to have worked in Japan’s manga industry over 5 years. Pope’s latest graphic novel, a dynamic re-invention of the Dark Knight, Batman Year 100 (DC Comics), won Best Limited Series, and Pope himself was voted Best Writer/Artist at the 2007 Eisner Awards (the comics industry’s equivalent of the Oscars).
Pope’s first major monograph, PULPHOPE, debuted this summer to steady sales and has been hailed by fans and critics alike.
Aside from comics, Pope has also worked briefly in film (2008’s now-in- hiatus The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, from Paramount Pictures). In line with the rock’n’roll spirit, he has designed various tour posters and/or album art for bands including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, White Stripes, Heavy Trash and The Tea Party. Pope has done a number of silkscreen prints, window designs, and store installations for retailers and fashion brands all over the world.
The 2089 line with DKNY JEANS is Pope’s most ambitious foray into fashion design and the first project of its kind.
Source: DKNY Jeans
