Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Bianca Nieves, Retailer
Arthur knew best: “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card!”
Now, you can always have fun in style, too. Madewell has teamed up with The New York Public Library for their first installment of a larger yearlong partnership. Working closely with the library’s team, Madewell’s creative director, Steven Cateron, drew inspiration from its archives to bring the collaboration to life.
“We were looking at a lot of specific ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s moments. We felt super lucky to do this because the library is such a reference for community and curiosity, and that’s Madewell’s approach. It was focused on the graphic work they have done in the past and referencing those; we worked together to make sure it feels evolved for the brand and honors the legacy of the NYPL,” Cateron shared.
The collection launched with a campaign featuring a range of emerging authors, including Anika Jade Levy, Michael Bible, Danielle Prescod, and Kayla Maiuri.
I got the insider scoop by touring the NYPL archives alongside Jessica Cline, supervising librarian for the NYPL Picture Collection, to see firsthand what the library and the denim brand call “a love letter to the city.” And of course, I also got to try a few pieces of the collection. More on that below.
Clockwise from left: Photo: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca Nieves
From top: Photo: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca Nieves
The 15-piece collection ranges from $25 to $228 and features two caps, one tote, one polo, three hoodies, six T-shirts, one denim jacket, and a set of cute pins.
If you love New York City, books, and merch, then yes, you need it. I tried both the 100 percent wool Polo and the Book Girl tee in size large, and I can see why they are Cateron’s favorite pieces. The tee playfully nods to the 1995 movie Party Girl, starring Parker Posey, and it’s incredibly soft. I usually wear a size medium for tops, but since it fits like a baby tee and I’m not used to wearing tight clothes, I sized up.
Clockwise from left: Photo: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca Nieves
From top: Photo: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca Nieves
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Librarian Jessica Cline wore the polo while giving us a tour of the Picture Collection, embodying exactly why Cateron looks to librarians for inspiration. The striped knit blended nicely with the aisles of folders. I, too, was inspired and could listen to her talk about the collection forever. So, when I tried it on, I immediately felt the need to be surrounded by visual history. What I liked even more is the attention to detail throughout the collection. The clothing tag inside features a cute Madewell logo inside a book. Plus, the typeface used throughout the collection is inspired by the library folders visitors received in the ’80s when they borrowed their images.
Photo: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca Nieves
Photo: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca Nieves
Last but not least, I tried on two other items: the blue cap that reads “The New York Public Library” and the brown canvas tote, both great for the holiday season. If you want to gift a city souvenir without being too cliché, the caps are a great option for the avid reader in your life. And if you have a type-B friend who’s always schlepping their stuff around, the tote can easily fit plenty of books (it has outside pockets for pocket-size books and a notebook), your laptop, and other essentials.
From left: Photo: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca Nieves
From top: Photo: Bianca NievesPhoto: Bianca Nieves
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The collaboration is available online at Madewell as well as in select stores.
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