London-based skate and streetwear label Palace is taking its first steps into womenswear with a new Vivienne Westwood collaboration. A match made in heaven, the partnership spotlights the home-grown rebellious spirit behind both brands that is specific to the city of London. “From the first day I went to Palace years ago, I liked what they are doing,” says Andreas Kronthaler, Creative Director of Vivienne Westwood. “It felt natural for us to join forces.” Lev Tanju, the co-founder of Palace had similar sentiments: “Collaborating with Vivienne Westwood, it’s a massive thing for us: we love them, and we always have. To bring this collection to life was a dream come true and we wanted to shoot the collection in London, our shared home. Palace is independent, Vivienne Westwood is independent, and we admire independence.”
Titled “PALACE Vivienne Westwood”, the subversive collaboration is built on the history and house codes of both brands across menswear and womenswear (a first for Palace), and features clothing, accessories, jewellery and skateboards. With this collaboration, Kronthaler continues to honour the legacy of the late Vivienne Westwood, repurposing her famous ‘Salon’ print from SS92 on a Gore-Tex hooded jacket alongside pieces in tartan, a pattern that has become synonymous with her creations. Teddy bear bags and beanies with Westwood ‘horns’ pay homage to the brand’s ‘90s iconography alongside long printed socks, orb necklaces, studded small leather goods and skateboards.
The collection leans heavily into printing for a rebellious and nostalgic look at the London scene both brands grew from. Archive Westwood prints feature alongside a print of Lev Tanju’s beloved dog Stuart on a black and white satin Vivienne Westwood corset, while a new collaborative logo that combines the Palace triangle with the Westwood orb features in a ‘logomania’ fashion on denim and flight suits.
“Working with Andreas Kronthaler and the entire Vivienne Westwood team has been an incredible experience. Vivienne Westwood has long been a massive inspiration to me, particularly through the brand’s ever-evolving creative output. We are immensely proud to have collaborated with such an iconic British brand. This collection is a true reflection of our shared values and influences, bringing together two distinct perspectives united by a common ground of independent thought, all with a uniquely London twist.” Gareth Skewis – PALACE co-founder.
Photographed by Shoichi Aoki, the founder of the Japanese street-style magazine FRUiTS, an accompanying campaign shot on the streets of London cements the rebellious spirit of the collaboration. The campaign will be collated into a limited-edition zine, available for free with in-store purchases.
PALACE VIVIENNE WESTWOOD launches globally at 11am (BST) Friday 6th September 2024.
Visit viviennewestwood.com and palaceskateboards.com
