Black-owned handbag brand Homage Year and the estate of the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat have come together to design a handbag collection featuring the artist’s unseen work for Black Fashion Fair. The online destination for designer pieces announced its collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat’s estate late last fall. Given unprecedented access to the “King Pleasure” exhibition, Black Fashion Fair commissioned 10 emerging Black designers to create one-on-one looks, ready-to-wear and accessories based on Basquit’s work and life.
“To have contributed to Jean-Michel Basquiat’s legacy means the world to me,” shares Homage Year designer Antoine Manning. “When my father passed away and I turned to painting as a means of expression, Basquiat was the first person that looked like me, sounded like me and was reminiscent of me. I view him as someone that reminds me so much of myself: artistically ambitious, complex and highly misunderstood, especially within that phase of my life. To be able to honor his legacy is something I’ve always dreamed of, but could never fathom. I just hope what we’ve created is something that he would have been proud of.”
The bags come in three sizes: classic, mini and mini mini. Designed in an untraditional shape with a curved handle, the bags feature one or two external pockets, silk-lined interiors and one slip-in and one zipped pocket. They come with an adjustable detachable strap that allows them to be worn as a crossbody or shoulder bag. The bags also feature the iconic Basquiat crown as a charm on the external zipper. Ranging in price from $200 – $375, the handbags are currently available at blackfashionfair.org.
