Leave it to Kanye West to fuse a high-fashion brand and a giant retailer.
On Friday, the rapper, 44, will expand his Yeezy Gap collection to include the influence of Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia.
Officially, the project is called Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga, according to a press release received by Page Six Style.
“This first of its kind launch sees Ye’s peerless vision bring together the most influential designer of his generation, Demna, with iconic American brand, Gap,” reads the press release.
“Yeezy Gap engineered by Balenciaga continues Ye’s commitment to bringing creativity to the forefront and delivering his vision of utilitarian design for all.”
West and Gvasalia have been close friends for years, but have ramped up their collaborations as of late, with the designer serving as creative influence on many of the rapper’s recent musical and visual projects.
And in addition to regularly sporting Balenciaga himself, West’s also dressed up his ex, Kim Kardashian, and his new girlfriend, Julia Fox, in the Georgian creative’s wares.
Gvasalia even took a cue from West by changing his own moniker to Demna shortly after Kanye legally shortened his name to Ye.
West signed a 10-year design deal with Gap in 2020, and has since released a very small collection of items — among them a $90 hoodie and $200 puffer jacket — that have all sold out instantly.
The first drop Yeezy x Gap x Balenciaga drop is expected in June 2022, with another to follow.
“There are very few people that I know, especially of Ye’s caliber, who really understand my work so well. He makes me come out of my comfort zone and be a better designer,” Demna told Vogue.
“There’s no ego when we collaborate, just a mutual drive to evolve and do something great and new.”