KAWS is shaping up to have a monster 2021 ahead of him. Already this year, the American artist has collaborated with Supreme, dropped a new collectible figure, and opened a retrospective exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. What’s more is that 2021 marks 25 years since Brian Donnelly started working under the moniker KAWS. This year is a big one for him, a silver anniversary, and it looks like the artist intends to underline its importance with new releases and collaborations. Looking forward, KAWS collaborations have already been confirmed with Sacai and Comme des Garçons and there very well could be even more on the way. With fashion and apparel set at the center of his known future endeavors, it’s appropriate to take stock of the KAWS shirts released over the last few years. We’ve searched far and wide throughout our extensive catalog and rounded up all of the best KAWS shirts on StockX.
Supreme x KAWS Chalk Logo Hoodie
Supreme and KAWS had been rumored to be dropping something together for quite some time so it wasn’t exactly a shock when the two collaborated on a hoodie for Week 1 of Spring/Summer 2021. Seeing as it’s KAWS’ 25th Anniversary, it makes sense that we would see some past-hits resurrected this year. That’s exactly what we got with this season’s inclusion of the KAWS Chalk Logo Hoodie. This KAWS shirt was originally released as a part of the artist’s 2011 collaboration with Supreme and its reappearance for Week 1 of Spring/Summer 2021 was just our first taste of what the artist may have in store for us this year. The Supreme KAWS Chalk Logo Hoodie delivers the artist’s hand-drawn take on the brand’s popular Box Logo and was made available on February 18th, 2021. For those looking to keep up with the times, this collaborative KAWS shirt is as timely as it gets. Shop every color of the Supreme KAWS Chalk Logo Hoodie on StockX here.
KAWS x Uniqlo Flayed T-shirt
The KAWS x Uniqlo relationship made a lot of sense. In 2013, after fully exiting BAPE, NIGO took the reins of Uniqlo’s graphic t-shirt line, Uniqlo UT. From there, it was only natural that KAWS and NIGO, two great friends, would find a way to work together in some capacity. The collaboration got its start in 2016 and KAWS and Uniqlo would produce four collections before ending their partnership in 2019. The KAWS x Uniqlo Flayed T-shirt released as a part of the two brands’ final collaborative drop and featured a sketched version of the artist’s popular Flayed figure. Since it’s release, this KAWS shirt has nearly doubled its resale price but still remains relatively affordable at an average sale price of $53 USD. Shop every t-shirt dropped as a part of KAWS x Uniqlo’s final release on StockX here.
KAWS Brooklyn Museum T-shirt
This KAWS Shirt was made available as a part of the merchandise capsule that was released for the artist’s 2021 Brooklyn Museum exhibition titled, WHAT PARTY. KAWS’ retrospective Brooklyn Museum Exhibition includes over 100 of the artist’s works from his 25 year career and opened on Friday, February 26th, 2021, alongside the release of the brand new vinyl figure. This t-shirt’s graphic features one frame of KAWS’ ten-piece print series, URGE, from 2021 and Brooklyn Museum branding. KAWS dropped URGE last year as an edition of 250 at a retail price of $28,000 USD for the full set. If you’re looking for an opportunity to flex your knowledge of the art space or consider yourself a die-hard KAWS fan, this is the t-shirt for you. Shop every KAWS shirt from the Brooklyn Museum exhibition on StockX here.
KAWS x Uniqlo x Peanuts T-shirt
KAWS and Uniqlo added a third collaborator on two separate occasions during their short four year partnership. Their first came with Peanuts, delivering KAWS-ified Snoopy t-shirts and plushes. For the most part, Snoopy was the star of the show, appearing on t-shirts, tote bags, and hoodies wearing a Joe KAWS sweater and cool guy KAWS glasses. Charlie Brown found his way into the mix on a t-shirt or two but for the most part, this KAWS collaboration was all about Snoopy, a cool cat who just so happens to be a dog. This particular KAWS shirt features a chalk sketch of Snoopy yawning without a care in the world. Every KAWS shirt from the Uniqlo x Peanuts collaboration can be shopped here.
KAWS x Uniqlo Pink BFF T-shirt
Before the popular KAWS Take Figure was even announced to be released as a vinyl collectible, the artist foreshadowed the drop by featuring a sketch of the collectible on a Uniqlo T-shirt aptly named the Pink BFF T-shirt. KAWS and Uniqlo’s final collaborative release took place just over a year before the Take Figure officially dropped and became one of the best-selling figures on StockX. Now that the Take Figure sells for well over $500 USD, this t-shirt may be a perfect consolation prize, especially at its relatively low average price point of just over $50 USD.
KAWS x Dior T-shirt
Pretty much the first thing that Kim Jones did when he got to Dior was collaborate with KAWS. The designer took over for the brand in 2018 and featured a massive Dior x KAWS floral arrangement at his debut show for Spring/Summer 2021. Several months later, a full apparel collection and two new KAWS x Dior BFF plushes arrived. The partnership was quite the kick-off for both the artist and the designer who took their work to new stages with that collaboration. The apparel held true to the floral theme they established with the Spring/Summer 2021 Dior show by making KAWS-illustrated bees the reoccurring mascot of the entire collection. Almost three years later, it comes as no surprise that more designer labels like Sacai and Comme des Garçons are also looking to work with KAWS. Buy & Sell every piece dropped as a part of KAWS and Dior’s apparel collaboration on StockX here.
KAWS x Uniqlo x Sesame Street Crewneck
KAWS and Uniqlo’s second additional collaborative partner was another popular kids television show but this time it wasn’t a cartoon. 2018’s KAWS x Uniqlo collection featured Sesame Street’s most popular characters including Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and more. The collaboration included both apparel and collectibles, with KAWS-ified Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie plush toys that could be bought separately or in a box set. This collection’s Sesame Street themed apparel pieces were great but it was the primarily KAWS focused items that stole the show. This KAWS Crewneck features no official Sesame Street branding, just an illustrated XX logo that’s clean and understated. Buy & Sell everything released by KAWS and Uniqlo in collaboration with Sesame Street on StockX here.
