Here’s How Fashion Is Showing Up At Art Basel Miami 2023

The intersection of fashion and art takes center stage at Art Basel Miami 2023, with a lineup of events and collaborations to redefine the experience. From December 5 to 10, art and events from artists around the world are on display in all forms. From digital creations to remarkable installations, to items from renowned designers and fashion products like watches, exclusive drops and collaborations from brands, Art Basel Miami 2023 is bringing multidisciplinary design to the forefront.

Besides the great artworks, you can expect collaborations from artists with brands like Billionaire Boys Club, who tapped Daniel Arsham to revive a BBC staple with the Bronzed Eroded Astronaut Relic. Other fashion brands show up as well, with Dion Lee opening its Miami flagship location on December 9, and Art Week participants with more robust plans fill the Art Basel Miami agenda.

Art Hearts Fashion starts a four-day extravaganza from December 7 to 10, promising a whimsical journey celebrating creativity, fashion, and art. The event aims to celebrate creativity, fashion, and art during the world's largest global art festival. The festivities promise a whimsical journey that transcends the ordinary, embracing the magic of fashion, art, and imagination.

The enchanting saga begins on December 7 at Fabel Miami Rooftop, where For the Stars Fashion House by Jacob Meir, known for dressing A-list celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Akon, and more, unveiled a new collection in thought-provoking couture ensembles. The event, featuring a VIP dinner party and fashion show under the stars, is set to take place at 9 p.m.

On December 8, the journey continues at Kiki on The River, with a riverside odyssey of boho-chic marvels. Runway shows from Lila Nikole, Mister Triple X, Black Tape Project by Drakhan Blackhart, and Pink Melon Swimwear featured in an atmosphere where Greek food and fashion as the theme.

The finale unfolded on December 9 at High Bar at Dream South Beach Rooftop/Naked Taco. The sleek ‘70s-inspired rooftop pool lounge overlooking South Beach hosted runway shows from Morfium Fashion, Love For Upcycling which has previously been shown at Miami Swim Week The Shows 2023, and RICHERETTE by Club Kid Richie Rich.

The grand finale of the Art Heart experience takes place on December 10, 2023, at The Vessel, Miami's innovative floating experiential venue. This sunset soiree is the culmination of art and fashion, showcasing summer collections from all participating designers. The event features live custom art creations by Skott Marsi.

A special installation located at 95 NE 40th Street in Miami's design district, features a 1/1 version of the Roots x The Weeknd collaborative jacket commemorating the 10th anniversary of the album "Kiss Land." The jacket designed by creative director in residence at Roots, Joey Saturday, is an installation, housed in a 6 x 4 foot translucent green acrylic shipping crate, is a collaboration with Basic.Space and Design Miami. The jacket is exclusively available for 48 hours (December 7-9) on Basic Space, with global retail availability in January 2024, including select retailers like Holt Renfrew, Patron of the New, Selfridges, Riccardi Boston, H Lorenzo, and HBX.

Members of the Rage, the ready-to-wear design venture founded by Scott Mescudi, also known as Kid Cudi, are partnering with Istituto Marangoni Miami for Art Basel and Miami Design Week 2023. A pop-up and a panel discussion featuring Kid Cudi and Laure Hériard Dubreuil, the Founder and Creative Director of The Webster, moderated by Keanan Duffty, explore the topics of creativity and originality in the presence of enthusiasts.

“It was a lot of it was a lot of things that, were just skipped.” the Ohio-born rapper speaks of his previous attemp at a clothing line in 2016. “The thing about this time - now is I got a nice team around me. I'm following the proper steps - to get to that place to execute a sample. I just finished my 3rd collection. You learn something new each collection. It's like that's what I was telling people today during the speech,” he recalls of his honors acceptance. He humbly expresses, “I'm just I'm just here not to suck. You know?”

As part of the celebration of art, Kid Cudi has been honored with an honorary degree in Fashion Design. The pop-up showcases the Members of the Rage AW23 Collection from December 4, until well after Art Basel has fled the Miami South Beach area, on the 15.

“It feels great, I'm overwhelmed right now just having that moment with my mom,” Mescudi says of his Members of the Rage launch and receiving his honors. “My mom came to witness it, and it's a big deal for me. That's something I never thought I would ever experience - wearing a cap and gown.” Mescudi

Trouble Andrew collaborates with Vintage Frames, transforming VF Miami into the Bodega-style art installation Underground Snax. PATRÓN was the exclusive spirit featured at the event. These frames, designed in its cigarette details, capture the cool of Miami and express that cross-section where the artistic hand can enhance everyday fashion.

Additionally in the fashion accessory category, a new limited edition Hublot Big Bang Unico Magic City is revealed during Art Basel. Hublot's in-house Unico HUB1280 movement is highlighted by its impressive features. The movement, with a power reserve of 72 hours, boasts an "open heart" design, showcasing intricate skeletonization for a visually striking and exceptional aesthetic associated with the Hublot name.

Hublot unveils a limited edition Big Bang Unico Magic City at a special dinner under the Miami night ambiance. Ricardo Guadalupe Hublot CEO says, “This extraordinary watch is a celebration of Miami's pulsating rhythm and serves as a testament to Hublot's commitment to crafting unique timepieces that reflect the spirit of the exciting locales they draw inspiration from. Introducing the Big Bang Unico Magic City—a timepiece as vibrant as the Magic City itself."

One of the most sought-after accessories was the Alexander McQueen skull design scarf. West Chelsea Contemporary, based in Austin, TX, is an art gallery offering world-class art in an interactive setting; partners with Holoconnects are assisting in bringing those designs to life.

“I love fashion,” James McQueen explains. “I love what you can do with clothes, and I love how you can tell stories by the use of textiles, silhouette, and proportions. All of this is like the storytelling. Clothing is a medium. The last thing I did in terms of fashion was with the digital fashion show,” he references back to the pandemic era of alternatives to live fashion shows called ‘Guiding Lights.’ That was essentially an 11 minute film that was rendered using Unreal Engine. 20 looks, which were both Male and female ranging from sportswear to couture.”

Their participation in Art Miami Booth AM203 from December 5 to 11 featured represented and blue-chip artists, including Gary James McQueen, a nephew of the famed designer. James McQueen was appointed head textile designer for the Alexander McQueen MRTW in 2005 and worked on the Chrome Skull artwork project in particular.

James McQueen notes, “I think part of our relationship that is built, was based on that digital show that I did as well, and they were blown away. It's So easy to get carried away when using digital technology to go sci fi - or just crazy. And what I try to do is keep everything branded so it's still relatable, and it's still got a heart to it. Still has a spirit.” The collaboration with Holoconnects adds an innovative dimension to the showcase, emphasizing the intersection of art and technology with a hologram digital artwork of 3D creations.

Water company and cereal collaborator with fashion, evian, and Coperni are hosting a lunch event at Soho House Miami, exploring design and creative collaborations during Art Basel. Timed to coincide with Miami Art Week and Design Miami, the event featured a panel discussion centered on design and the impact of creative collaborations, like its water bottle design with the water company. Coperni's Co-Founders, Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer, joined by Lucille Moreau, Director of Culture and Experience at evian, and Sarah Harrelson from Cultured.

Sports returns to Art Basel with the 2023 Abloh Skateboarding Invitational, organized in collaboration with Architecture c/o Virgil Abloh. The event has gained prominence as a key skate gathering and featured a “best trick” competition, a public free skate session, and a live DJ set to honor Virgil Abloh's enduring impact on the skate community, through his fashion design and considerable artworks.

The four-day programming commenced with photographer Atiba Jefferson's exhibition opening on December 6, showcasing his 25-year career's work, highlighting Virgil's friends and collaborators, and emphasizing Black voices in skate culture. As a dedicated day, "Free Game," on December 10, provided exclusive access to skateboarding leaders, including workshops, clinics, tutorials, training sessions, and discussions with global design, art, and skateboarding influencers.

Mooon.Party debuted the MetaBurnett Fashion Activation Event combining high fashion with innovation at Art Week 2023, at the Surfcomber Hotel in Miami. Mooon.Party's commitment to pushing boundaries. MetaBurnett, led by visionary Emily Burnett, aims to transform the fashion landscape by converging music, art, technology, and fashion.

Renowned designer Romeo Hunte, along with Emuleos and Forever Lavi, showcased diverse collections, reflecting the inclusive spirit of Mooon.Party. Emily Burnett's MetaBurnett, with over 25 years in luxury fashion design, is redefining the interaction between fashion brands and consumers, emphasizing digital innovation and traditional fashion sensibilities. The unveiling of MetaBurnett's digital wallet at Mooon.Party signifies a milestone in fashion history, symbolizing a new era of personalized, interactive fashion journeys.

In jewelry, Miansai launches the Art of Smoking Collection on December 7, coinciding with Art Basel. This timeless collection features meticulously crafted replica pipes as an homage to the early 2000s, capturing the golden era of smoking accessories. The collection includes three iconic pieces known as The Pipe, inspired by traditional smoking accessories; The Apple, a tribute to resourcefulness and creativity; and The Can, symbolizing innovation and style. All pieces are made from 316 stainless steel, elevating Miansai’s raw objects through refined aesthetics, using top-quality metals, and leathers in multiple products, regularly.

Babor skincare brand has collaborated with abstract artist Cevin Parker to present "Welcome to Dreamland" on display at Miami's Art Basel. The event unveils Babor’s limited edition Ampoule Serum Concentrates set, "The Art of Beauty Collection," featuring Parker's signature artwork. Designed for all skin types, the 14-day set aims to hydrate, revitalize, and rejuvenate the skin. The exclusive event attracts notable attendees including Brooks Nader who is a Miami Swim Week regular, Elsa Hosk, Lisa Hochstein, Devon Windsor, Karolina Kurkova, and more.

As art is still at the forefront of the Art Basel celebration, novel design emerges. Gateway, a company focused on the digital art experience in web3 culture, introduces Refik Anadol's 'Sense of Healing: AI Data Sculpture' for the first time in the U.S., merging art and neuroscience. This software-based artwork stems from Anadol's studio's extensive research into creating meditative art based on neurological data. Additionally, Gateway co-curated a digital art gallery with Christie's, available for live auction on the Christie's site.

Lladró is celebrating 70 years creating decor, and making its debut in the art world with the introduction of its inaugural art collection at Art Basel Miami. The brand has a history of collaborations, having previously partnered with fashion icon Paul Smith. Collaborator Javier Calleja, a renowned contemporary artist with collaborations with brands like Vans, Hypebeast and designer Mira Mikati, is also part of this significant project. The limited edition collection with the Spanish porcelain brand exclusively sold during Design Miami and showcased at John Marquez's new gallery, Marquez Art Projects.

Lamborghini invites attendees to The Gallery, showcasing 60 years of motion artistry, featuring the unique Revuelto V12 hybrid super sports car. The highlight of the event is the unique Revuelto, crafted by the Ad Personam customization team, marking Lamborghini's 60th anniversary. The Revuelto, with watchmaker Roger Dubuis’ participation in Lamborghini’s gallery and the launch, the inaugural V12 hybrid super sports car, establishes a new standard in dynamic performance, and technological innovation, and embraces a new era of electrified driving pleasure.

Arlo Wynwood collaborates with ThankYouX for a rooftop mural, "Want to Be Reminded," reflecting the artist's prominence in the NFT space. The mural, set to grace the skyline of Arlo Wynwood at 2217 NW Miami Court, reflects ThankYouX's prominence in the NFT space, seamlessly bridging the realms of traditional art and crypto. The artwork captures the vibrant energy of the city and intricately blends unique color schemes symbolic of both the hotel and its neighborhood. Open to the public on December 6 from 6 to 9 p.m., it's one of many art exhibits happening around town.

Also on the agenda design studio RTFKT, who are known to design futuristic Nike sneaker iterations, are unveiling a collaboration at the intersection of crypto asset management and creative studio expertise. Bringing together Ledger's global leadership in crypto asset management and RTFKT's trailblazing creative studio, this partnership not only pioneers innovative education programs and collaborative drops. This also represents a harmonious blend of RTFKT's creative ingenuity and Ledger's Web3 security expertise.

Contemporary artist and photographer Philippe Shangti made his debut at Miami Art Week's Context Art. The exhibition featured three works, including the first-time display of limited editions "Luxury Dubai Dinner" and "Luxury Lust Dinner," alongside the "Live Your Fucking Best Life" tag. Shangti, known for his provocative photographic artworks, presented artistic concepts in sensual and refined, futurist settings. The showcase at Context Art marked Shangti's inaugural Miami Art Week exhibit.

Apart from what art is expected, many fashion brands are making a statement during the week-long art celebration. The confluence of art, fashion and technology takes center stage, defining the narrative of Miami Art Basel 2023.