Some concepts should never have left the canvas. In a lot of instances, collaborations can compel consumers to purchase goods due to their inherent wearability, uniqueness and often rarity. However, sometimes, collaborations miss the mark, and we’re stuck scratching our heads just asking ourselves, “why?”
Now everyone, do your best Kanye impression and scroll down as you get to experience five collaborations that never should have happened.
BAPE X The Avengers
BAPE collaborating with The Avengers could have produced some of the dopest Bapesta’s ever. However, the vintage silhouette paired with superhero colour schemes didn’t exactly pan out. The vibrant colour blocking on the patent leather makes the quality look cheap. On top of that, the colour schemes themselves lend themselves to a very kiddish vibe, as opposed to what could have potentially felt robust and somewhat serious. The Bapesta’s last straw is the hero embedded onto the outer heel of the sneaker, sealing the cheesy label and shipping it off into the abyss for it to live on as a failed collab.
Coach X Champion
This is one of those ones that will never be understood. In recent years, Coach has attempted a Gen-Z resurgence as they display more logo-driven garments alongside collabs that they think kids would want. Champion was cool for a whole 6 and a half minutes in 2017 when we spotted Kanye wearing a grey tracksuit. Now, however, the brand carries an extremely basic connotation and a reputation for being overpriced and underutilized. Pair that with Coach’s desperate attempt to stay relevant, and you have an ugly collab.
Supreme X Singer
At the very least, this collab is on brand. Supreme has been well known for their weird and wacky items like their infamous brick, crowbar and mini bike. However, this collab with Singer is just straight-up odd. Something about the machines actually usable seems like a weird choice from Supreme. Although, I must admit that the machine would look cool on a coffee table or bookshelf.
Balenciaga x The Simpsons
The Balenciaga X The Simpsons collaboration had the potential to turn out like the one right above it. And it did.
Balenciaga has been pushing the envelope with designs that Gen-Z consumers have adored. The sloppy, rugged and borderline homeless aura makes their clothing great options for those who go for more relaxed looks. However, their collaboration with The Simpsons took it a step too far toward being a couch potato.
Hoodies and T-shirts retailed around the high three to the mid-four-figure range, and all consumers were getting was basic Balenciaga materials with screen-printed imagery. The approach makes sense from a Gen-Z perspective, but the overall output just didn’t make sense.
Givenchy x Disney
The overarching issue with this collaboration was the execution. Instead of looking like a collaboration between a high fashion house and the world’s most popular animator, we got garments that looked like movie merch.
With a few pieces, it was clear that Givenchy had creative freedom as the cuts look boxy and very runway ready. As well, some of the more ready-to-wear garments were solid, with designs that suited the silhouette well and colour blocking, which made the pieces wearable. However, a good 90% of the designs had very basic renderings of Disney characters with nothing really backing them.
Just another idea that made more sense on paper than it did in production.
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