What happens when a fashion icon meets an animated superstar? In the case of the latest collab from late designer Virgil Abloh and Disney, it’s “Figures of Speech.”
The limited-edition merchandise release is an off-shoot of the Brooklyn Museum’s “Figures of Speech” exhibit dedicated to Abloh’s inimitable life and work. The designer may have passed away suddenly last year after a private battle with cancer, but his ability to weave luxury into everyday pop-culture and redefine high-brow will long remain an influential turning point in the fashion and art industries.
See also: A Tribute To Virgil Abloh: The Fashion Icon Who Started A Cultural Revolution
To that end, the “Figures of Speech” collection—available for purchase in the Brooklyn Museum gift shop and online—features never-before-seen renditions of Mickey Mouse as drawn by the late artist. The cartoon is vibrant and full of anxious energy, all at once emitting relatable attitude and an edgy, street-art style.
The imagination, innocence and limitless potential of childhood was a recurring theme in Abloh’s storied art and design career. In that way, the Off White founder and former Louis Vuitton artistic director does well to capture Disney’s most iconic mascot, a figure who stands for the joy in children’s hearts the wold over.
Abloh’s Mickey appears in a variety of colorways on sweatshirts and t-shirts, in sizes for both kids and adults, with prices ranging from $30 to $120.
The “Figures of Speech” exhibit in New York City first opened in July, and features first-ever glimpses at pieces and objects from the Abloh archives. The collection spans 20 years of Abloh’s career, and it runs through Jan. 29, 2023.
The world was shocked when Abloh passed away Nov. 28, 2021, though his unique approach to fashion and art continues to unfold in a series of posthumous releases, including his much-hyped Nike Air Force 1 shoe design, his take on the classic Louis Vuitton driver moccasins, and a new line of beauty products from Off White.
Learn more about the ongoing "Figures of Speech" exhibit at brooklynmuseum.org, and shop the “Figures of Speech” collection via church---state.brooklynmuseum.org while supplies last.
Photography by: Courtesy of Brooklyn Museum, Disney and Virgil Abloh Securities
