Eighty years after the death of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, his influence continues to shape contemporary culture, especially in the world of fashion. Mondrian’s signature grid-like patterns and bold use of primary colors have been widely adapted and reimagined, from art galleries to fashion runways. This ongoing influence is particularly notable in collaborations between artists and fashion houses, such as the return of Louis Vuitton’s partnership with Takashi Murakami. Today, we look back at the many ways Mondrian’s work has left its mark on the fashion industry.
One of the most iconic examples of Mondrian’s impact on fashion came in 1965 with Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian collection. The collection featured trapeze dresses designed with Mondrian’s signature geometric blocks of color. These dresses quickly became a symbol of 1960s fashion and remain one of Saint Laurent’s most memorable creations. The collection, which included ten dresses, was developed with the help of designer Azzedine Alaïa, who created a special sewing technique to preserve the integrity of the dress’s design. Although Mondrian had passed away more than 20 years earlier, the collection remains a powerful example of how modern art can influence fashion.
While Saint Laurent is perhaps the most famous designer associated with Mondrian’s work, he was not the first to draw inspiration from the painter. In the early 1930s, designer Lola Prusac, who worked for Hermès, created a line of bags and luggage based on Mondrian’s geometric patterns. Decades later, in 2020, Hermès paid tribute to Mondrian again with its Fall/Winter 2020 collection under the direction of Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski. The collection featured pieces in Mondrian’s iconic colors, including a red sweater with blue and yellow sleeves and a white dress with vertical stripes. Even a Mondrian-inspired Birkin bag was introduced.
Italian fashion house Moschino also embraced Mondrian’s bold use of primary colors in its Spring/Summer 1993 collection. The collection included a dress that resembled Saint Laurent’s trapeze dress and a white blazer decorated with red hearts and colorful squares. Moschino’s use of Mondrian’s work was not just an homage, but a statement. Designer Franco Moschino, known for challenging fashion norms, reinterpreted Saint Laurent’s designs, emphasizing the complex and sometimes controversial relationship between art and fashion.
In 2017, Loewe also paid tribute to Mondrian by releasing a color-blocked version of its iconic Puzzle bag, incorporating Mondrian’s famous red, blue, and yellow blocks. These examples show that fashion continues to celebrate Mondrian’s legacy, proving that the connection between art and couture is timeless.
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