Eckhaus Latta currently inhabits a distinctly liminal state as a fashion line — the label has held its own in indie circles, collaborating with Spanish footwear leaders Camper and gaining fans in style-forward musicians like SOPHIE, Moses Sumney, and Kelela. As finalists for the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, they're on the brink of making it big, and their streak of good luck continues as the brand announced their exhibition with the Whitney Museum this summer. It's not only an opportunity that will surely extend the line's reach to new audiences, but it's the the first fashion-related show at the museum in 21 years — an undisputed big deal for the six-year-old line.
The “Eckhaus Latta: Possessed” exhibition will be a reflection of the brand, a cerebral and provocative approach that addresses the quasi-shadowy parts of design and retail while fully appealing to our inner 21st century voyeuristic sensibilities. According to The Cut, the exhibition will be broken into three parts: a sequence of photographs commenting on the images often found in fashion ads, an operational retail space with a special collection of clothing designed for the show, and lastly, a security-adjacent room in which attendees watch surveillance images of the rest of the exhibit.
“Working with [Eckhaus Latta owners] Mike and Zoe has challenged us to consider the roles that our museum spaces play and the objects that are presented," said Lauri London Freedman, the Whitney's head of product development. "They pushed us to ask broader questions such as ‘How can we reexamine the format of an exhibition?’ and ‘What is the best way to exhibit an artist’s work?’”
“Eckhaus Latta: Possessed” will run from August 3 to October 8.
Thumbnail via Eckhaus Latta's Instagram.