Spring 2017 Wear LACMA collection features leather, jewelry and menswear

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
Jun 1, 2017

The latest release of the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art (LACMA) fashion meets art project Wear LACMA includes offerings from leather designer Kendall Conrad, jewelry from Lena Wald and men's apparel from Outerknown.

Wear LACMA is in its fifth year, having started in 2012. The program taps local Los Angeles based talent to design limited-edition apparel and accessories that are inspired by the museum's permanent collection and exhibitions. All proceeds benefit LACMA.

"With Wear LACMA, we love partnering with Los Angeles based-designers for their unique perspectives and diverse backgrounds,” said Katherine Ross, founder of Wear LACMA.

Previous Wear LACMA contributors include Oliver Peoples sunglasses inspired by Chris Burden’s “Urban Light" (2008) and apparel and accessories designed by Elder Statesman’s Greg Chait that were inspired by 15th century Peruvian textiles. Monique Lhuiller, Rodarte and Libertine have also participated in previous Wear LACMA collections.

This season, Kendall Conrad was inspired by an ancient weight from Afghanistan that resembles a kettlebell. The weight featured etchings of palm trees and scorpions which Conrad reinterpreted with contrast stitching on a handbag for a similar aesthetic with modern use.

Jewelry designer Wald was inspired by German Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's work "Two Nudes in a Room” (1914), as well as an untitled wood block etching, to design a series of brightly colored enamel rings discussing gender and fluidity.

Menswear is also showcased for this season's Wear LACMA through a four piece capsule collection from Outerknown. Outerknown is a two year old brand created by designer John Moore with pro surfer Kelly Slater. The capsule includes men's tees and pants. The collection draws graphic inspiration from a Syrian print and a Hawaiian photograph in LACMA's permanent collection.

Wear LACMA's spring 2017 collection launches officially on June 7. It will be available at the LACMA Store as well as online. Price points range from $48 for one of the Outerknown tees to $295 for the Kendall Conrad leather bag.