The act of repurposing an existing item of clothing is a collaboration in itself. A collaboration between the original maker and the owner making their own mark. The very best collaborations and repurposed items take an existing idea and elevate it to somewhere new. That’s what READYMADE and Takashi Murakami have achieved in their latest capsule of repurposed jeans.

READYMADE’s designer Yuta Hosokawa has previously crossed paths with the Japanese contemporary artist when he created artworks in Murakami’s studio. And Murakami himself is no stranger to the world of fashion. His graphic artworks have been sought after by the likes of Supreme, Uniqlo and, who could forget, Crocs.

Every item in this collection is unique. Each started life as a vintage pair of jeans; each with its own wear, tear and marks. READYMADE is known for its expert repurposing of military gear and other existing garments, hand-crafting each piece with care. So, you know its selections and work is top notch.

Then, each jean is adored with Murakami’s iconic smiling flowers graphic, embroidered in vibrant colors and placed all over the jeans. These happy little faces brighten the tired vintage denim, giving them a new lease of life.

It’s the attention to detail that elevates these jeans to a new level. The button fly and rivets have been replaced with the smiling flower graphic and a skull motif. This isn’t a hastily finished job. These pieces have been expertly hand-crafted to not only give them new life but ensure that it’s one that lasts.

The limited pieces can be bought from the Zingaro online store.