After working with brands like READYMADE or NEW ERA, the Japanese contemporary artist TAKASHI MURAKAMI unveils a new collaboration that should make a big noise. For this new opus, the Japanese designer has teamed up for the first time with Formula 1 king Lewis HAMILTON and his brand PLUS44WORLD for an exclusive and limited collection.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion is a sportsman with a keen sense of fashion. Widely respected for his performances on the racetrack, Lewis Hamilton is also known for his eye-catching and innovative fashion style.
Founded by the racing driver, PLUS44WORLD has been generating a lot of interest since its arrival on Instagram. Its 1st drop is therefore orchestrated by the great Takashi Murakami, world-renowned for his bold and colorful artworks strongly inspired by manga and anime.
The exclusive capsule is built around classic streetwear pieces modeled by the Japanese artist to combine his signature style with the character traits and aesthetic expectations of Lewis Hamilton.
It consists of a black circuit jacket, a black hoodie, 2 styles of long sleeve t-shirts and 2 styles of short sleeve t-shirts in black or white.
Made in the USA, these clothes include ecological, organic and recycled cotton in their composition, and benefit from textile finishing and dyeing made with ethical production practices. These pieces are adorned with Takashi Murakami’s colorful or not colorful illustrations and exclusive co-brandings. Several other details paying tribute to Lewis Hamilton’s sporting career are affixed to some of the collaborative garments.
Speaking about the collaboration, the Japanese artist said : « A few years ago, I was incredibly honored to learn that Sir Lewis Hamilton had visited my art show and was a fan of my work. Needless to say, I was so thrilled to be able to collaborate with him on this collection. » He continued : « Lewis Hamilton is known for being a creative and inspiring force in everything he does and his new Plus 44 World creative lab is no different. We worked together to make each piece reflect our shared passion for the unique, the psychedelic and a celebration of what makes us all different. Those who know Lewis can expect this collaboration to be a reflection of his unparalleled talent. »
In turn, the Formula 1 driver confided : « I’ve been a big fan of Murakami’s work for as long as I can remember. He is a true creative genius and visionary, whose work is not only eye-catchingly beautiful, but also deeply rooted and important to the creative community, international presence and history of Japan. »
The Lewis Hamilton PLUS44WORLD x Takashi MURAKAMI collection is available as of October 6, 2022 exclusively through the F1 champion’s creative lab website, plus44.world. Prices range from $60 for the short-sleeved t-shirt to $200 for the jacket and $115 for the hoodie. Let’s go !
