Kanye West and Gap Team Up With Balenciaga on a New Collection

Kanye West announced on Friday that he’s found a brand new way to bring affordable luxury to the masses, teaming up with his favorite high-fashion brand Balenciaga on a collection for the Gap.

In 2020, the rapper signed a ten-year deal with the retailer, debuting his first design from the partnership — the instantly sold out $200 Round Jacket — on Gap’s website last summer. This new endeavor officially titled Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga is set to be released in June, followed by a second collection coming out later in the year. “It is a vision come true to work with Gap and Demna, the creative director of Balenciaga, to make incredible product available to everyone at all times,” West told Vogue.

Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia added “This is a very different challenge. I’ve always appreciated the utilitarianism and the accessibility of Gap. I share some of the same sensibilities in my creative language. This project allowed me to join forces [with Ye] to create utilitarian fashion for all.” The designer also pointed out that he and the Grammy winner have long shared the same stylish sensibilities, explaining, “there’s a certain urban minimalism and poetry in our aesthetics, [and] also a desire to push boundaries.” He continued, “There are very few people that I know, especially of Ye’s caliber, who really understand my work so well. He makes me come out of my comfort zone and be a better designer. There’s no ego when we collaborate, just a mutual drive to evolve and do something great and new.”

West’s appreciation for Gvasalia’s artistic vision and their forthcoming collaboration explains why the musician, as well as his new girlfriend Julia Fox and estranged wife Kim Kardashian, have all suddenly started exclusively wearing Balenciaga. Gvasalia also creative-directed the sets for both of the rapper’s livestreamed Donda listening events in Atlanta and Chicago, as well as designing the merch for them.

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