Artist Richard Haines has already lent his coveted illustrations to the men’s ready-to-wear at Lanvin, Prada, and Dries van Noten, but today, he’s adding Virginia-based Moore & Giles to his roster of collaborators. The leather goods powerhouse brand is perhaps known best for outfitting the interiors of private jets and yachts with their luxe leathers, but has made a recent push into more commercial items like luggage and other travel accessories.
“I became acquainted with Richard’s work a few years back when I stumbled upon his stellar blog, ‘What I Saw Today,’” said Thomas Brennan, Director of Design at Moore & Giles. “I had just returned to small-town Virginia where I grew up, and where Moore & Giles is based, from New York, and loved revisiting the city through Richard’s illustrations.” Mr. Brennan was eventually connected with Mr. Haines through a mutual friend, and the idea slowly began to sprout. “It wasn’t until we attended a show of Richard’s at Daniel Cooney’s Gallery in September, and saw his line work up close that the project hit its stride in my mind,” Mr. Brennan added. “His art is confidently imperfect, quintessentially masculine and refreshingly modern.”
Mr. Haines chose to interpret the figures the Moore & Giles man dreamed of one day becoming when he was young – an astronaut, scientist, cowboy, rock star, superhero, and firefighter. Each of these characters were etched into a selection of leather goods that first debuted at New York Fashion Week: Men’s during the Palmiers du Mal runway show.
“Every collaboration is different,” said Mr. Haines. “My goal is to bring my art and incorporate it into the medium – whether it’s fabric prints for Dries, a book and t-shirts for Prada, or leather goods for Moore & Giles. I love the challenge of having my work become flexible enough to enhance the brand I’m working with.” The artist, who formerly served on the design teams of Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis, and, in its heyday, Bill Blass, had just returned from Paris where he was commissioned by La Fédération Française de la Couture to “live illustrate” couture shows for their Instagram account. “That was a dream come true,” he admitted. Next, he has a showing of his works in November at Daniel Cooney Gallery in Chelsea, as well as a few more secretive commercial projects currently kept under lock and key.
