Couture Anthology Brings High Fashion To Comics
Comics and fashion have always had an interesting relationship, but comics have never centered fashion as much as Danielle Colman hopes to do in the upcoming anthology Couture, currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. Couture features the work of an impressive array of artists focusing on fashion as a storytelling device.
Each of the stories in Couture is inspired directly by fashion design, from a McQueen-influenced fantasy to a Dior-wrapped riot. And each of the artists Colman has chosen to work with is known for their fashionable comic art, including Jen Bartel, Kevin Wada, Valentine De Landro, Marguerite Sauvage, and the legendary Howard Chaykin.
With the help of the Kickstarter campaign, Colman is publishing Couture as a hardback collection. Backers can receive the book with a pledge of $45 or more, and there's also a digital companion volume called Atelier, which is available to backers who pledge $5 or more. Other rewards include enamel pins, postcards and prints. As the Kickstarter page explains, fully 50% of the funds raised will got to pay the contributors for their work.
From the press release:
Couture, the first-ever comic book anthology with stories inspired by the visually stunning history of Haute Couture fashion design, is now available on Kickstarter. Independently published by rising star writer Danielle Colman, Couture is an exploration of the ideas and creativity that Haute Couture inspires.
From the incredible fantasy of a supernatural kingdom inspired by Alexander McQueen to the excitement of a demonstration-turned-riot based on the designs of Christian Dior, Couture has something for every kind of fan—with stories that look every bit as amazing as they read. A winning combination of high-end Haute Couture fashion design and gorgeous illustrated graphic novels, the Kickstarter-funded anthology promises fashion as you’ve never seen it before.
“The most innovative fashion designers have also been storytellers,” said Couture creator Danielle Colman. “McQueen, Saint-Laurent, Galliano—they’ve all invited us into the worlds they create with their garments; in Couture, we’re taking those stories off the runway and putting them on the page.”
Couture features an incredible array of artistic talent from across the comics industry, including
• Jen Bartel (Jem and the Holograms)
• Justin Greenwood (Stumptown)
• Jed Dougherty (Worlds’ Finest)
• Kevin Wada (She-Hulk)
• Robbi Rodriguez (Spider-Gwen)
• Howard Chaykin (American Flagg)
• Comfort Love and Adam Withers (The Uniques)
• Marguerite Sauvage (DC Bombshells)
• Valentine De Landro (Bitch Planet)
• Tony Parker (Mass Effect: Foundation)
• Taki Soma (Sinergy)In addition to copies of the hardcover volume of Couture, other rewards include custom jewelry by Optimystical Studios and enamel pins designed by Bitch Planet stylist Dani Vulnavia, with stretch goals including a prose story by The Wicked and The Divine scribe Kieron Gillen. Rewards are expected to ship in summer 2017.
The Couture Kickstarter runs until 19 November 2016, seeking a funding target of $30,000.