While evolution is a key part of any great fashion brand’s growth, designers often have to adhere to at least some element of constraint, in an effort to ensure their work appeals to the labels’ loyal following.
For that reason, the last few years have seen the frequency of prestigious collaborations skyrocket, as the world’s biggest and best visionaries temporarily break free from those limitations to flex their creative muscle.
Collaborations offer brands the perfect opportunity to veer away from what is typically expected of them, meaning we often get to see all parties involved significantly pushing their creative boundaries, often delivering some of their most memorable and sought-after work.
2021 has been no different, bringing with it a flood of weird and wonderful link-ups that have delivered an eclectic mix of unforgettable capsules. Below, we’ve handpicked a few of our favourite fashion collaborations from this year.
Jordan x Off-White
The Jordan Brand and Off-White are hardly strangers by this point, but that doesn’t make it any less noteworthy when the two hit the drawing board together.
Given the popularity of the capsule that dropped for All-Star Weekend in 2020, it was very much a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” at the beginning of this year, when the two employed a near-identical design for a run that covered hoodies, tees, and trousers.
Palace x Stella Artois
Both Stella Artois and Palace hold a special place in British culture for very different reasons—so when the two clashed, there was huge, understandable hype surrounding the whole thing.
The iconic skate brand, which has an abundance of experience in ‘out-there’ collaborations, called upon the Belgian booze staple to develop a range that spanned across everything from hoodies and tees, to beer glasses and beach towels.
Along with the eye-catching memorabilia, Stella x Palace pubs popped up in both Soho and New York to mark this spectacular team effort.
Drake x Chrome Hearts
Chrome Hearts already has a notorious reputation of being difficult to get hold of—throw Drake into that equation, and the hype surrounding this particular collection is pretty self-explanatory.
Once a mere fan, 2021 saw Drake officially join forces with the Los Angeles luxe brand ahead of his latest record, Certified Lover Boy, to create what has without a doubt, gone on to become one of this year’s most talked-about collaborations.
Along with the sought-after cross-stamped signature hoodies, the partnership even included a custom Rolls Royce complete with “f*ck you” engraved rims.
Travis Scott x Fragment x Jordan
Following on from an exclusive take on the Air Jordan 1, Travis Scott and Fragment kept things moving with the Jumpman label via an accompanying hoody, tee, and shorts.
Both Scott and Hiroshi Fujiwara’s, Fragment, have been frequent collaborators with Nike, so getting all three together seems a logical step.
Fragment first jumped on board with the Swoosh in 2010, while Scott’s acclaimed work has very much been geared towards a newer generation. That ability to cover an array of audiences probably goes a long way in explaining the collection’s immediate popularity.
adidas x Wales Bonner
Spring 2021 saw the famous three stripes return to its work with the ever-popular Grace Wales Bonner for a collection enigmatically titled ‘Essence’.
Bonner’s first run under the adidas Originals banner paid homage to London’s British-Jamaican community in the 70s and was met with immense acclaim. Jumping forward in time, the second instalment takes inspiration from 80s Jamaica, Britain’s connection with the Caribbean, and the origins of dancehall music.
The end result delivers an abundance of vibrant colours, patterns and textures, spread across a spectacular-looking retro medley of sportswear.
Nike SB x Parra
With skateboarding finally recognised as an Olympic sport this summer, the Nike SB folks were hardly going to let the occasion pass without producing something special. Special, and a bit mad.
With a little help from Dutch artist, Piet Parra, federation kits, and accompanying apparel, for the United States, Japan, France and Brazil made a spectacularly striking splash.
Pantone landscapes, stemming back to the iconic scenery of each country, offer an innovative take on traditional skatewear, which according to Donavan Harris, Nike’s Design Lead for the kits, could invite a new kind of fandom to the sport while maintaining vital authenticity.
Gucci x The North Face
As far as globally recognised household names go, they don’t really come much bigger than outdoor veteran, The North Face, and Italian luxe stalwart, Gucci.
Centred around adventure, challenging the status-quo and self-expression, each item blends the iconic NF Half Dome and Gucci’s distinct web stripe.
Serving up gorgeous pastel hues and vintage prints, The North Face’s ‘70s lookbooks have been revisited to deliver the creative spark which covers tees, robust outerwear, and accessories.
Louis Vuitton x NBA
When French fashion icons Louis Vuitton signed a three-year creative affiliation with the NBA last year, there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
May saw the latest instalment revealed, with 90s basketball mania acting as a central theme for Virgil Abloh’s creative vision, which dreams up an abundance of LV stamped retro prints across apparel inspired by three stages: travel, game-time, and press conferences.
Along with the clothing comes a range of lifestyle items that vary from blankets and cushions to an LV-branded basketball.
Supreme x KAWS
Whether you’ve been milling around the streetwear game for years, or you’ve just developed a passing interest, the Supreme box logo will no doubt be familiar.
The DNA of that classic look isn’t altered too much in the brand’s recent work with Brian Donelly’s KAWS, utilizing the shame chalk-drawn style that was present when the two met way back in 2011.
