An 18th century man's vest, knitted in a red, blue, and white graphic pattern, replete with caterpillars on the lapels, is an intriguing garment in the permanent collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
For handbag designer Clare Vivier, it was the kind of inspiration needed to create one-of-a-kind, vintage-style coin purses, one beaded in red, blue and white, and another in black and white fringe.
Elsewhere in the museum’s collection, a French earthenware water pitcher, circa 1710, inspired Monique L’Huillier to design a stunning ballgown that appropriated the piece’s blue and white designs and shapely curves. Meanwhile, Jennifer Meyer tapped Edward Ruscha’s Made in California (1971) for some necklaces, and Gregory Parkinson looked to an ancient Mayan mask of turquoise, lapis lazuli, and shell to reproduce it in the form of a vest.
These pieces are part of this year’s Wear LACMA project, which launched in 2012 to enable L.A.-based designers to merge art and fashion by creating limited-edition products — from dresses, T-shirts and tote bags to fragrances, jewelry, and leather pouches — that are inspired by objects in LACMA’s permanent collection.
This year’s edition of Wear LACMA celebrates the museum’s 50th anniversary, and includes 19 designers: Anita Ko, Cathy Waterman, Clare Vivier, CO, dosa, Esquivel, FREECITY, Greg Lauren, Gregory Parkinson, Irene Neuwirth, Jennifer Meyer, Juan Carlos Obando, L’oeil du Vert, Libertine, Monique Lhuillier, NewbarK, Nick Fouquet, Rodarte, and The Elder Statesman.
The pieces that inspired them range from 16th- and 17th-century European paintings and ancient pieces from Mexico and Iran, to textiles, archival photographs, prints, and contemporary works.
Also new this year is the project’s partnership with global web retailer Farfetch, which has launched an exclusive online boutique to tout these unique pieces.
"As a company that encourages customers to unfollow the crowds and thrive on diversity, Farfetch is pleased to partner with LACMA on its Wear LACMA: 50th Anniversary Edition of bespoke products," said Stephanie Horton, Farfetch Chief Marketing Officer, in a statement.
The collection will be available for purchase at the LACMA Store, both on site and online, as well as on Farfetch.com beginning November 4, with all proceeds benefiting the museum.
To view some designs and their inspirations, click on the slideshow.
