Jean-Michel Basquiat’s legendary style has earned recognition way beyond the frame, his scratchy strokes, bold colors, and textual motifs are instantly identifiable, wherever they appear. Widely considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Basquiat’s career spanned the late 1970s through the 1980s, leaving behind an iconic body of work. His neo-expressionist style blended urban imagery with raw, spontaneous energy, often incorporating words, symbols, and layers of meaning that explored themes of wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experience.
Excitingly, in May 2025, they will be appearing on Eastpak – in a special collection that takes in key Eastpak styles: the Day Pak’r, the Shopp’r, the Resist’r Case and the Up Roll – and one special new design, the Crown, as well as other Eastpak classics including the Benchmark, Springer and Transit’r luggage.
The Day Pak’r and cycle-friendly Up Roll come in black, with embroidered quotes in Basquiat’s distinctive handwriting, and the iconic Basquiat crown screen printed in scarlet. The Day Pak’r, along with a handy Shopp’r Tote, also comes in a monochrome Basquiat illo print, based on the artist’s elaborately detailed piece Pegasus.
This distinctive print is seen again inside the Resist’r Case in small: a hard-shell case in colorblocked off-white and black, to stand out in transit, while reflecting Basquiat’s signature aesthetic through lasering on the telescopic handle and print inserts in the case itself.
Followers of Basquiat’s bold artistic legacy can find it immortalized in The Crown Bag, a super-practical cross body bum bag style, rendered in the form of Basquiat’s most enduring image.
These special designs have been given premium fabrications and special details as a tribute to the artist they’re a canvas to. Fabrics have TPE backing for a sturdy feel, while zip pulls come in an all new, all black drawcord with a discreet Basquiat crown printed on the tip. Straps feature richer nylon seatbelt webbing, and all designs – across the wider collection – have nods to the Basquiat name and legacy through woven labels, swing tags and bespoke branding: a tribute to one of the most influential artists of our time, brought to life through Eastpak designs.
