The late Karl Lagerfeld’s iconic white shirt, often paired with a black silk tie, remains a timeless symbol of his revolutionary designs in the fashion world. To honor his legacy, the special project titled A Tribute to Karl: The White Shirt Project has been launched this fall. Curated by Lagerfeld’s longtime stylist Carine Roitfeld, this project will showcase a variety of reinterpretations of his beloved white shirt by renowned creatives.
Participating in this project are a lineup of notable names such as Diane Kruger, Tommy Hilfiger, Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne, Amber Valletta, Lewis Hamilton, Alessandro Michele, Sébastien Jondeau, Takashi Murakami, and more. The idea behind this initiative stems from Lagerfeld’s profound passion for fashion and his signature white shirts, which were a staple in his personal wardrobe. Carine Roitfeld expressed, “When I think of Karl’s most iconic designs from his career, I always think of his white shirts. This tribute will allow us to honor his legacy while incorporating his unwavering love of fashion and giving back.”
As a nod to Lagerfeld’s lucky number seven, seven final designs from this project will be reproduced 77 times each and sold for €777 per piece. The proceeds from these sales will be directed towards the French charity “Sauver la Vie,” which supports medical research at the Paris Descartes University, a cause that Lagerfeld silently championed for many years.
Tommy Hilfiger, who is part of this tribute project, shared his personal connection with Lagerfeld, saying, “My love and respect for Karl has much more than a white shirt so I had to celebrate our relationship with a red, white and blue stars version.” The ongoing release of various capsule collections by the house of Karl Lagerfeld further showcases Lagerfeld’s enduring influence in the fashion industry.
The final shirts created as part of this project will be featured in an exhibition at the Maison Karl Lagerfeld during Paris Fashion Week in September 2019. CEO of Karl Lagerfeld, Pier Paolo Righi, highlighted the intimate nature of this tribute, stating, “The participants in this tribute are all people who Karl knew, who he felt connected to, or who inspired him. Sending a personal message through the creation of an individual bespoke version of Karl’s iconic shirt makes it, for each participant, a very unique and intimate way of relating back to Karl.” This project truly serves as a touching tribute to a fashion icon whose legacy continues to resonate in the fashion world.
To learn more about the A Tribute to Karl: The White Shirt Project, visit here.
For updates on the Karl Lagerfeld brand and upcoming collections, visit the official website here.
