MCM unveils MCM x SambyPen Limited Edition Collection

For Spring Summer 2021, MCM gets graphic, launching a Limited Edition collection inspired by the subcultural codes of graffiti.From subversive, playful aesthetics to emotive, renegade motifs, MCM becomes the complete embodiment of unrestrained individualism & non-conformity where street art and pop art coexist.

Designed by up-and-coming Seoul-based artist, @SambyPen, the collection illustrates MCM’s DNA of mobility and freedom through vibrant, youthful tones and light-hearted motifs with an attitude. The collection celebrates MCM’s core iconography and reimagines its brand codes according to his signature aesthetic.  The MCM logo design references graffiti street art in bold tones, whilst the remaining insignia nod to the brand’s journey from Berlin to Seoul through 3 distinct animal characters:  Henry the Timid Lion (inspired by the Munich Lion), Kaiser the Blunt Puppy (inspired by Wilhelm II & the symbol of Germany) and Haru the Wicked Rabbit (inspired by the MCM Rabbit & German Easter Hare).  Referencing the tensions between chaos and adaptation, Sam deconstructs traditional archetypes and reconstructs them into a modern expression:

"The theme of “MCM x SAMBYPEN” is “Media Creates Madness”, addressing the contemporary society in which we live. We, who grew up in the “Analogue Age” now live in a “Digital Age,” and have become a generation of chaos and adaptation.  The media has an unavoidable role in modern society, where massive amounts of information flow through us via the internet and videos.  My focus has always been to observe yet subvert this dynamic by employing unabashed and sarcastic designs against traditional iconography." – Sam

Fusing street culture with luxury, construction with deconstruction and material with emotion, the artworks conceptualize the collection’s dynamic, functional designs by embracing the fluidity and contrasts of MCM’s digital tribe, from their multiple forms of self-expression to their ever-shifting lives. 

Cobalt blue sits alongside bright pops of primary color, while pastel hues & earth tones are paired with brazen graphics, referencing the chaos of creativity and conformity.  Unveiling rich new shapes, the assortment introduces cushions, carpets and slippers as well as polo shirts, cargo pants and shorts for indoor lounging and outdoor living.  Each look synthesizes a series of contrasts - day to evening, fierce to vulnerable, intimate to bold and dressed up to dressed down.  The collection icons are juxtaposed against MCM’s Visetos, symbolizing a journey from past to future.

"From 1976 to now, MCM draws on a journey which began in Munich and continues from Berlin to Seoul.  From art and music to technology and travel, MCM has been at the centre of the Zeitgeist, embodying the freedom to be bold, irreverent and aspirational.  With an eye for reinvention, this unique philosophy has inspired a design approach where function and culture follow creativity.

The shared ethos between MCM and SambyPen resulted in a collaborative project where art, fashion and entertainment blend and the underground converge with luxury." - Dirk Schönberger, Global Creative Officer, MCM

The MCM x SambyPen collection is next in a series of global collaborations in the brand’s Global Creative Platform, and symbolizes unbound freedom, community & playfulness as well as eccentricity & spontaneity, presenting a full women’s, men’s & unisex ready-to-wear range of apparel and accessories.  The first-time design celebrates Berlin street art & renowned graffiti scene, reinterpreting it through an inimitable lens representing Seoul’s irreverent youth and diversity.  The collection will be available in store and online from 1 May 2021.