APPLIED ART FORMS' T-Shirt Becomes the Canvas for Kevin Cummins' Ian Curtis Portrait
The Joy Division singer takes center stage on this photo tee that’s being sold exclusively at Dover Street Market London.
Guy Berryman, the Coldplay bassist and founder of APPLIED ART FORMS, wants to change your perception of celebrity fashion brands. Through his artisan line and subversive Valentine’s Day capsule, it promises an aesthetic that everyone can tap into, rather than a brand reserved for the glitterati. Its point is proven once again with its latest collaboration, this time teaming up with the British photographer Kevin Cummins on a T-shirt depicting the Joy Division singer, Ian Curtis.
Cummins predominantly photographed rock bands and artists in the 1970s and ’80s, capturing the likes of David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Morrissey, U2, Sex Pistols, The Stone Roses, and of course, Joy Division. Now, an iconic portrait of Ian Curtis, Joy Division’s lead singer, guitarist, and lyricist, takes center stage on a limited-edition tee.
Releasing as part of Dover Street Market‘s Photo London activation (which also sees the release of the Cecilie Bahnsen x ASICS GEL-NYC collaboration), the T-shirt comes alongside Cummins’ own book, ARCHIVUM. The book features more than 50 black-and-white prints of the group Joy Division and will be signed by the photographer, while the T-shirt is even rarer.
Only 40 editions of the tee are up for grabs, and each comes with a signed and numbered swing tag by the artist. Speaking on the piece, Cummins said: “I think because it’s a close-up… it has the feel of an icon to me.”
The T-shirt is screenprinted and references the original image as accurately as possible in black-and-white, adding a grainy edge to the premium 250g soft-touch white tee. It retails for £155/$195 USD and can be bought online or in-store at Dover Street Market London, while stocks last.
For more musical icons, check out Nile Rodgers fronting CHANEL’s 2023 eyewear campaign.
