Working in collaboration with artist Adam Pendleton, Gabriela Hearst has designed limited-edition bags that challenge the traditional understanding of fashion, art and sculpture. Each Nina bag is painted by hand, making it a one-of-a-kind work of art that comes with a signature. The bags have been created in celebration of the musician and activist, Nina Simone, who inspired their name.
Since its founding in 2017, Adam Pendleton has taken part in the effort to buy and preserve the Nina Simone Childhood Home located in North Carolina, making another nod to the artist whose memory he seeks to commemorate with this initiative. Funds collected during the sales will go towards the preservation of the Nina Simone Childhood Home as part of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Only 25 individually signed and numbered bags will be made available for purchase exclusively at Sotheby’s. In addition, the collection will be displayed at the Sotheby’s Salon in New York, giving people an opportunity to see it as a piece of art. This collaboration is based on common ideas that both Hearst and Pendleton had in mind.
According to Pendleton, the collection pays homage to Nina Simone’s artistic bravery, while Hearst states the collaborative process and its essence. Thus, this partnership not only recognizes and respects the legacy of Nina Simone, but it is also a demonstration of how fashion can become an art form.
Written By
Sophia Rodriguez
Sophia Rodriguez covers global runway trends, emerging designers, and sustainable fashion with expert insight and refined editorial storytelling.
