Image Courtesy of Colmar.
Infatuated with streetwear and graffiti from an early age, Joshua Vides launched his first project titled CLSC in 2009 in California. Since then, he partnered with The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago such as many streetwear and luxury brands – and now Colmar.
In early 2022, the paths of Colmar and Joshua Vides crossed for the first time and an immediate bond was forged that would lead to the current collaboration: a collection marked by several bestsellers, based on the brand’s history, in which the artist expresses his unmistakable style.
“I usually start collaborations without an exact idea in mind,” Joshua Vides explains. “I don’t like to think about it too much. I give myself the freedom to react to the stimuli of the moment and create a concept spontaneously. In this particular case, I thought about what an artist has in common with an athlete: the constant challenge to find the best possible solutions for overcoming defeat. The joy of winning after multiple failures, standing on the podium and bouncing back after a setback.”
The collection designed by Joshua Vides for Colmar’s 100th anniversary consists of a total of ten garments that reflect the brand’s DNA and know-how and reinterpret them in an innovative way. The highlights of the collection are two jackets and a reversible down gilet that features a representation of Colmar’s famous “1249” down jacket on one side, while the other side is completely black.
The legendary jacket designed for the Italian ski team “Valanga Azzurra” in the 1970s and later renamed “Ceffa” by ski champion Erwin Stricker is being revived in the form of a jacquard jumper made of cashmere and wool. This jumper not only celebrates the company’s founding year and place of origin, but also recalls an authentic competition jersey from the ski races of the time.
Image Courtesy of Colmar.