Surreal Partnerships : Elsa Schiaparelli and the Legacy of Artistic Collaborations

The surreal world of Elsa Schiaparelli embraced the shock value of artists like Marcel Duchamp, who exhibited a urinal in an art gallery. Known for her scintillating wit, the designer famously turned a shoe into a hat and crustaceans into couture. 

In 1927, @schiaparelli made history with her hand-knitted trompe-l’œil sweater and wrote the rulebook for modern ready-to-wear. She introduced fashion to themed collections and capsule wardrobes, and her partnership with flamboyant fine artist Salvador Dalí set the stage for contemporary luxury collaborations.

 The pair’s Skeleton Dress (1938), adorned with ‘bones on the outside’ (Dalí), was more than a fashion statement. It transformed horror into headlines. The collaboration secured Schiaparelli’s legend, and she became the first female fashion designer to grace the cover of Time Magazine. 

 The luxury collaboration pioneered by Schiaparelli made an iconic comeback in the noughties when Japanese artist @takashipom reinvigorated @louisvuitton with a dose of global relevance. The Monogram Multicore range remained en vogue for over a decade, making partnerships big business.

 The trend has since diversified from fashion to wine, spirits and jewellery. At Potlatch, the art of collaboration is a speciality of the house. The agency pairs luxury brands steeped in tradition with fine artists who disrupt and embellish established narratives. Together, creative partnerships transcend cultural boundaries and create highly collectable expressions of luxury. 

Images courtesy of the 2017 exhibit Dalí & Schiaparelli — presented in collaboration by The Dalí Museum and Schiaparelli Paris.