Wednesday, Jun 21, 2017

The long-awaited debut of pop star Zayn Malik’s collaboration with Versace’s Versus line finally landed on Monday on the fashion label’s website.

Malik, 24, worked closely with Versace artistic director Donatella Versace to create a collection for both men and women, a mix of sports and functional pieces including the singer’s stable fashion item, the bomber jacket.

The collection “captures the essence of how Zayn and his friends dress right now. It’s about the attitude of the street, playing with proportion and the individuality of customisation,” the brand said.

A Zayn x Versus campaign, starring Malik and Bella Hadid, the younger sister of his girlfriend Gigi Hadid, was also launched.

“When I see this collection, I see Zayn. His attitude, his energy and his individuality are in every single piece. I am so proud of what we have achieved together. The campaign defines everything I love about the new generation today,” Donatella Versace is quoted as saying in a statement.

The singer adds: “When I was a kid growing up in Bradford, England, wearing knock-off Versace, I never thought that one day I would actually be designing my own collection. Thanks so much to Donatella Versace for allowing me to do the coolest thing ever.”

Malik and Versace announced the collaboration last year, following his shoe collaboration with Italian designer Giuseppe Zanotti.

“I’ve always wanted to design clothes and there’s no brand I’d rather design for than Versus. I like to learn about things I’m interested in and I enjoy being around creative people so I think it will be cool. The bonus is that I get to collaborate with Donatella, whom I love and admire. I know we’ll create something amazing,” Malik told the New York Times following the announcement.

Versace said she wasn’t a fan of One Direction but knew Malik through his girlfriend Gigi, whom she’s worked with.

“He was so mature, so thoughtful, treated her like such a gentleman. They are very nice young people, a lovely couple, in fact. And then he told me how much he loved fashion. It was then I knew he was the right face for what I had in mind,” she was quoted by the New York Times as saying. “Many celebrities do clothing lines that just aren’t relevant. This one? It will be. He’s smart to do it with me.”

Extending their relationship, Malik also starred in an ad campaign for the Versus spring-summer collection photographed by Gigi.

“It was sick to work with Versus. Dontella is a G. It was extra special that Gigi shot the campaign. Looking forward to following up with my Versus collection that drops in June,” he said.

By David Tusing, tabloid! Editor

Gulf News 2017. All rights reserved.