Sakai Partners with Brooklyn-based Artist Hank Willis Thomas

Chitose Abe of sacai wanted to evoke the themes of peace, love, and unity with the tagline "LOVE OVER RULES" for the Pre-Spring and Men's Spring/Summer 2021 collections. To convey this message, we teamed up with Brooklyn-based conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas. The collection will be presented in a powerful two-part campaign inspired by those who have defied social expectations, broken rules, and pushed boundaries, regardless of race, culture, or gender.

The campaign, produced by Hank Willis Thomas Studio in collaboration with Equator Productions, focuses on community through portrait photography and film. Jazz trumpeter Keyon Harold, movement artist Mizuho Kappa, artist Zoe Bachman, designer and advocate Celine Seman Vernon, jazz pianist Jason Moran, artist and activist Chela Mann, and Thomas A handful of artists were invited, including himself and his wife, curator Rujeko Hockley. In a campaign film, the participants talked about what "love over rules" meant to them.

To celebrate the collection, longtime supporter and retail partner Bergdorf Goodman will celebrate sacai's partnership with Thomas in the windows of its iconic Fifth Avenue store beginning Monday, January 18, in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day. In addition, Bergdorf Goodman will launch an additional marketing campaign, including an interview with Thomas on its website (opens in new tab). The collection will be available in Bergdorf Goodman stores and online.

The fabrics used for these two collections were all repurposed from sacai's archives. In doing so, Abe repurposed her favorite prints such as Reyn Spooner and Pendleton, as well as suiting fabrics such as solids, glen checks, pinstripes, and nylon MA-1s. Abe reworked these materials into graphic patchwork patterns inspired by the work of Hank Willis Thomas. Like the brand's DNA, this collection is about transforming classic, familiar shapes to create something new and unexpected. 7]

In a video call from Toko Atelier with WWD (opens in new tab), Abe discussed the "Love Over Rules" collection, saying, "Basically, this collection respects and honors everyone, regardless of race, culture, or sexuality, and also agrees with love over rules."

Abe also said that the "Love Over Rules" collection "is a collection of clothing that is not only about love, but also about love.