The art and denim worlds collide in a new capsule collection from APJP.
Designers Alberto Panocchi and Joelle Pomioli formed the brand on the basis of turning old into new—the Milan-based team is known for elevating vintage denim to include their unique hand-painted designs.
Sold exclusively online by London retailer LN-CC, the collection includes 10 pairs of upcycled black, blue and white jeans featuring various hand-painted effects. The painting performance was recorded on LN-CC’s Instagram Live account. The APJP capsule collection is available now, with prices starting at £220 GBP (approximately $270).
While fits and fabrics run the gamut in denim nowadays, painted denim is one trend notably sweeping over the industry across various price points.
One of the latest hand-painted denim looks comes from Candiani Denim owner Alberto Candiani, who recently partnered with Grammy-winning DJ and producer Steve Aoki on a limited-edition jean featuring hand-painted artwork by Aoki and his team of artisans in Las Vegas. The $150 Dim Mak x Candiani EC-01 is decorated with a design that features Japanese demons.
New York City-based brand Wren + Glory also dropped a unique hand-painted collection recently. Though the brand is known for its unique painted jackets, the latest line was a collaboration with Nickelodeon featuring the animated character SpongeBob SquarePants and many of his signature phrases. Jackets retail for $395-$425.
Consumers are getting into the creative action, too. Searches for DIY denim projects like hand-painted jeans have been growing since consumers began to shelter in place and have more time to reexamine what is already in their closets. According to data pulled from influencer marketing technology platform Traackr, between January and April, influencer posts about DIY denim increased by 125 percent, with a 186 percent increase in engagement.
