Mansur Gavriel first announced themselves to the world with the debut of their line of handbags, including their highly covetable bucket bags that amassed a hefty waiting list. Since then, they've introduced more styles in millennial-friendly hues and fun patterns.
But the latest capsule announced by the brand takes it firmly into "wearable art" territory, with a limited-edition four-piece line of bags rendered in prints of famous sculptures by Alexander Calder. All four bags were designed in collaboration with the Calder Foundation, the organization that preserves the archives of the late artist.
The four handbags are made of vegetable-tanned leather in the following styles: The Mini Bucket Bag, the Circle Crossbody Bag, the Large Tote, and the Attaché. Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel, the brand's founders, took inspiration from Calder's archives and decided upon the following four works of art:
- Untitled (1974) Gouache and ink on paper
- Untitled (1972) Sheet metal, wire and paint
- Vertical Foliage (1941) Sheet metal, wire and paint
- Untitled (1955) Sheet metal, wire and paint.
Calder first became famous in the mid-1920s after he presented his Cirque Calder in Paris. He's perhaps best known for his invention of the mobile sculpture, which suspended forms that moved with the flow of the air.
"We relate to Calder's work through its purity and form," the designers, who share a common background in the arts, said in a statement. "Calder expressed a very intentional relationship between color and material, which is a principle that greatly interests us and influences our work. His works are both accessible and elevated; they celebrate the harmony of line, color and form. We love his site-specific works and are inspired by their presentation within a specific context or environment."
The Mansur Gavriel x Calder capsule collection will be available on October 2 at matchesfashion.com, Mansur Gavriel stores, and mansurgavriel.com.
Photos: © 2019 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York