When Art Meets Fashion

Acrylic paint, wood panels, and a dead artist... None of those things makes you think of fashion. That is, until you put them into the context of the fashion collection by Diamond Supply Co. In honor of their 20th anniversary, Diamond Supply Co. drew inspiration from the work of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The Basquiat Collection by Diamond Supply Co. is a great mix of art and fashion. I may be a little biased because I am a huge Basquiat fan but if you don’t believe me you can check out the collection for yourself.

It’s been over a decade since the passing of the great artist Jean Michel Basquiat but his presence, popularity, and influence still weigh heavily on the art and fashion world. When speaking on the reason for this collection the founder of Diamond Supply Co., Nicholas Tershay, stated:

“We are thrilled to release the Basquiat collaboration to celebrate our 20th anniversary by honoring an artist whose fine artwork reflects the same rebellious style as the skate and street world, just like Diamond.”

As can be found on the company’s website: “Diamond Supply Co. was founded in 1998 when Nicholas Tershay created a skateboard hardware line from his one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco. In 2000, Nick moved to Los Angeles and began building Diamond Supply Co. in Mike Carroll and Rick Howard's legendary girl skateboards distribution house—soon growing Diamond Supply Co. to a full range of skateboard hard and soft goods including bolts, bearings, t-shirts, fleece, accessories, and more. Having a strong aesthetic and a commitment for creating high quality goods, Diamond Supply Co. was quickly embraced by skate and street fashion communities alike.”

It’s clear to see with the Basquiat Collection the company has stayed true to their commitment to producing high quality, edgy street-style fashion items. The Basquiat Collection is comprised of 23 pieces. These pieces include a denim jacket, tote bag, bomber, cruiser deck, two skate decks, graphic T-shirts, hoodie sweatshirts, and hats.

Basquiat’s career started somewhat organically. He was homeless in New York City and made ends meet selling his artwork on the streets. He became famous for his “SAMO” graffiti works and used that fame to catapult his art career. Basquiat was an art world phenomenon but his work wasn’t always appreciated or accepted by some of the elite in the art world. Although his work can be sold for millions today he was often the victim of racism within the industry.

Diamond Supply Co. choosing Basquiat to celebrate their 20th anniversary is a clear sign of what type of company they are. “Being in fashion for more than 20 years, our brand has evolved and grown into something we never imagined,” Tershay explained. “We continue to stay true to our roots and ethos by creating new, unexpected products through partnerships with other creative individuals and companies."

Basquiat’s success in the 1980s was at a time before I was even born but yet I still feel a strong connection to the artist and his work. When I saw the news of this collaboration I couldn’t help but get excited. It’s like I get to own a piece of the artist’s work, but even better, I can wear it! The collection does such a great job in honoring what Basquiat stood for and the message of his art. I’m hoping that the collection opens up the minds of more people who may be unfamiliar with Basquiat and his mission of challenging racism and classism in the art world.

It’s nice to see young black artists celebrated in the fashion industry.

For more on Basquiat check out my author page here.