The 10 Most Memorable Fashion Collaborations of 2015 Inline
Photo: Courtesy of H&M1/10Balmain x H&M
Riffing on past runway hits, Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain x H&M collaboration gave the designer’s two million Instagram followers a chance to join his Balmain Army. And that they did, turning out in droves to shop the collaboration—and resell it on eBay for more than ten times the retail price.
Photo: Courtesy of Nike2/10NikeLab x Sacai
Chitose Abe’s Sacai collectsion has been a fashion favorite for years, but its collaboration with NikeLab introduced Abe’s spliced-up vision to a new market—and allowed current fans to score some of Abe’s pieces for a more affordable price.
Photo: Getty Images3/10Kanye West x Adidas Originals
Kanye West returned to Fashion Week with year with a little boost from Adidas Originals, who produced West’s first ready-to-wear collectsion (the second is under the Yeezy label, separate from Adidas) and partnered with the musician-cum-designer on his series of Yeezy sneakers and boots.
Photo: Courtesy of HBA4/10Hood By Air x Empire
You can’t deny the allure of Empire. Lee Daniels’s high-gloss series captivated many millions of people this year, though none put a spin on the Empire look quite like Hood By Air’s Shayne Oliver, who crafted a series of pieces featuring memorable iconography from the show. Sure, Cookie might not wear a black hoodie, but you will.
Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo5/10Lemaire x Uniqlo
Lemaire’s elegant and minimal collectsion for Uniqlo proved that a fashion collaboration doesn’t need to be splashy or sequined to be successful. (Uniqlo stuck to this script in 2015 with a Carine Roitfeld–designed collectsion of lace-trimmed slip dresses and pinstriped suiting.)
Photo: Courtesy of Supreme6/10Supreme x Undercover
Jun Takahashi’s cult-favorite brand Undercover turned 25 this year and celebrated with a limited-edition Supreme collaboration that drew hypebeasts and high-fashion addicts to the store’s infamous Thursday morning line.
Photo: Courtesy of Athleta7/10Derek Lam 10 Crosby x Athleta
Derek Lam’s activewear collaboration may become the standard to which future activewear collabs are held. The designer riffed on gym staples like stretch leggings and sweat-wicking tops, but also produced leather outerwear for getting from the gym to the office in style.
Photo: Courtesy of Moschino8/10Moschino x Barbie
The buzz around Moschino’s Barbie was twofold: First, doll collectsors (of which there are apparently many) love a designer edition. But even more interestingly, the TV spot for the doll featured a young boy playing with Barbie—the first Barbie ad ever to feature a boy playing with the doll—sparking a dialogue around gender-neutral toys.
Photo: Courtesy of Comme des Garçons9/10PLAY Comme des Garçons x Converse
A collab doesn’t have to be predicated on newness to be exciting. In 2015, Comme des Garçons updated the pattern on their high- and low-top PLAY Converse sneakers. The styles were scooped up by retailers and consumers alike.
Photo: Courtesy of J.Crew10/10Jimmy Fallon x J.Crew
Who says a successful partnership has to be serious? Not Jimmy Fallon and J.Crew, who collaborated on a clever pocket square phone case. The accessory was created for a bit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and then sold in J.Crew stores and online. Its crossover appeal—Fallon fans, fashion dudes, and those looking for a pop-cultural gift this holiday season will all buy it—could influence the way fashion conceives of celebrity collabs to come.
