can't buy me love
Posted by Sara Zucker on November 9, 2009 02:23 PM
They may once have sung "All You Need Is Love." But in case that's not enough, the Beatles unveiled on Monday a high fashion bag collection, in collaboration with Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons.
The collection of bags and shirts come simply spattered with apples and polka dots, the former en homage to Apple Corps, the company controlling the rock stars' legacy. The latter is merely a favorite pattern of the Japanese designer.
“I want to develop the ‘Beatles by CDG’ collection in a strong conceptual way,” said Ms. Kawakubo through an interpreter. “Instead of making many unnecessary items that may come to resemble a Beatles souvenir shop, I think it is better to concentrate on one strong idea.”
The 10 bags are sure to be a hit with the vegan crowd; all are non-leather (consistent with the passion of Paul McCartney's late wife Linda and their daughter, designer Stella McCartney), and are made of embossed polyurethane and printed PVC material. Kawakubo explained the graphic patterns as “deliberately undesigned” and “prototypical shapes.”
She continued, “The graphics and visuals will be the creation, as this can best express the spirit of The Beatles.” It is to be launched next week in Tokyo at the designer's new Omotesando store called The Trading Museum, and at London’s Dover Street Market on November 27.
An international roll-out of this “one image, one concept” collection will start in the new year. The travel bags will be priced to sell from around £320 or $530, shirts at £220, and T-shirts from £70.
So, while Paul once claimed, "I don't care too much for money," would-be buyers might better take their cues from John: "Money don't get everything, it's true... but what it don't get, I can't use."
More about: The Beatles, Apple Corps, Comme Des Garcons, Omotesando, The Trading Museum, Dover Street Market, Rei Kawakubo, Fashion, Beatles by CDG, Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Stella McCartney, John Lennon