Miss Van and Fornarina Vibe
French graffiti artist Miss Van has turned her catch-me-if-you-can beginnings into a mainstream moment. The Gallic tagger is collaborating on Fornarina Vibe, a collection from the Italian jeans line intended to give young artists a new canvas, as it were, for their work. Spring pieces feature Miss Van's saucy drawings on tees, accessories, and denim. "I've always liked painting a sexy doll in an inappropriate place," she said. "I want to provoke strong reactions." And hopefully, in this case, a strong urge to buy.
TAP Tees
When Valentine's Day rolls around, ask your honey for a TAP (Traffic Artists Products) tee. Anja Kroenke, Izak Zenou (of Henri Bendel ad fame), and other artists affiliated with NYC creative agency Traffic, have put Venus in Love in her many incarnations on ribbed, scoop-front, scoop-back, and jersey-style T-shirts. They hit stores in February.
Emmanuelle Mafille
Fresh off a collaboration with Japanese cult label United Arrows, French artist Emmanuelle Mafille is launching a limited edition collection this spring at Paris's Bon Marché. Her chic line drawings will appear on tees, dresses, scarves, and bags. "Since 16, I've made designs of everything wherever I can, as it is the only thing I really know how to do," Mafille said.
Zakee Shariff
There's a new Shariff in town. This London-based designer and trained reiki healer (whose new line of printed shoes arrives in stores next month) has covered her bedroom in mehndi wallpaper that she designed—a contemporary take on the art of henna painting—that, she says, lends any space "a feeling of warmth