We are passionate about collaboration and are proud to partner with both established and upcoming artists to bring our customers a unique assortment of products they can’t find anywhere else. Our buyers and designers travel the world to uncover special products and work with talented artists. Through our partnerships, we follow high ethical and legal standards and work with those who share our commitment. Below are some examples of our many global collaborations.
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Designed exclusively for Urban Outfitters, Artist Editions is an ongoing series of limited edition graphic t-shirts created by a rotating roster of artists from around the globe. With monthly drops featuring the latest styles alongside collectable pins and patches, Artist Editions serves as a one-stop shop for highly collectable graphics-based goods.
London-based illustrator Kate Prior works in-house at the Urban Outfitters UK office. The UO Blog stopped in to chat about her vibrant pieces and what it's like to work at UO.
Cleofus is a Colombian-born, New York-based artist and self-taught graphic designer. He studied fine arts at the Conservatory of Art in SUNY Purchase. Since the late ‘90s, through the use of traditional and digital media, his work has explored a critical view of social and cultural issues. His recent work can be viewed under the monikers Polito Vega and No Way Jose—both are especially gaining popularity via social media.
From clothing design and embroidery to political murals and posters, Philadelphia creative Brooks Bell does it all. The UO Blog takes a behind-the-scenes look at his practice and his latest Artist Editions designs.
Raised in Wilmington, Delaware and influenced by the urban street culture of Philadelphia, Josh’s work is known to pay homage to past and present-day pop culture, punk rock ethos, and the youth culture at large. This personal exploration of influences and experiences ultimately inspired Josh to create his own company, Propaganda & Propaganda Accessories, that currently serves as an outlet to produce limited edition goods for the contemporary youth culture of today.
Illustrator Florian Bertmer is renowned throughout the metal world for his intensely detailed album artwork. The UO Blog visit Florian's Long Beach studio to take a look at his new work for UO's Artist Editions series.
Also known as Stugazi, Stuart Matz grew up in Washington, DC skating and playing in punk bands before getting into graphic design. Now based in New York, his work remixes cultural touchstones with humor and attitude.
Chicago illustrator Nate Otto’s work depicts the fabric of urban spaces and the ways in which color and architecture weave together in everyday life. The UO Blog stopped by his studio to check out his latest work and to talk about his contributions to the Artist Editions series.
Graphic artist and art director Winston Tseng grew up surrounded by skateboarding in Redondo Beach, CA. Since then, his colorful and polarizing graphics have adorned t-shirts and boards around the world. The UO Blog caught up with him at his NYC studio to talk about his latest designs for UO’s Artist Editions tee series.
Born in 1980, S. Bradley Askew is an American graphic designer and artist living in New York. For more than 15 years, his work has evolved around the concept of happiness or its perceived notions.
Ellie Andrews is a graphic artist based in South London whose colorful, textured creations contain their own unique sense of humor. The UO Blog caught up with Ellie at her home studio to talk about her latest Artist Editions designs.
US@UO designer Victoria Hutto keeps things looking slick as a member of our in-house design team. The UO Blog stopped by her Philadelphia studio to chat about her work and her newest creations for UO's Artist Editions Series.
Joe Flores is a Chicago-style graphic designer with a BFA in art and design. Through his illustration imprint, Pizza Press, Joe slings pins, patches, pennants, and other collectable goods inspired by pop culture, skate, and bootleg design.
Originally hailing from St. Paul, MN, Philadelphia-based graphic designer and image maker Ted Guerrero chatted with the UO Blog about his contribution UO’s ongoing Artist Editions series.
Born and raised in Chico, CA, Artist Editions contributor Aye Jay! steeps his work in the worlds of music and skateboarding. The UO Blog stopped by his studio space to chat with him about his Artist Editions designs and the other projects he has up his sleeves.
Beloved throughout the skate industry, Oakland-based artist Bigfoot creates work that depicts a cast of Bigfoot characters fighting against mankind’s destructive agenda. The UO Blog caught up with the reclusive Bigfoot at his studio to talk about his love of nature and his latest Artist Editions designs.
Based in Rosario Argentina, YAIA is the personal motto and moniker of Julio César Battistelli. YAIA creates hard-edged graphics with incredible amounts of detailing by blending punk rock and metal iconography with a colorful pencil style. The UO Blog chatted with YAIA about his process and to find out about the inspiration behind his Artist Editions designs.
Philadelphia artist Jim Houser blends visual poetry and personal iconography into colorful works that serve to catalogue his own thinking. The UO Blog talked to Jim about his body of work and his contribution to UO's Artist Editions series.
Based in Bushwick, Jimmy McMillan creates pins, patches all sorts of other graphics under the moniker Suspect LTD. The UO Blog paid him a visit at his studio space to talk about the powerful iconography of his work.
Baltimore and DC-based artist Linas Garsys creates graphics inspired by punk rock, hardcore, and modern politics. The UO Blog visited him at his Baltimore home studio to take a look at his newest work.
Michigan-based graphic designer and illustrator Lorenza Centi creates colorful works that explore the human form in a digital context. She shared the inspiration behind her Artist Editions shirts and showed the UO Blog how her work comes together.
At the helm of Boston’s Hungry Ghost Press, Chris Morrison designs zines, tapes, and LPs and other ephemera for bands and labels all over the country. The UO Blog caught up with Chris to talk about his latest Artist Editions designs and how music shaped his art.
The first photographer in UO's ongoing Artist Editions series, Alexander Richter’s photography is unmistakably New York. The UO Blog took to the streets of Manhattan with the celebrated photographer and talked to him about the impact of a great photo.
Better known by his alias, Never Made, Francisco Reyes Jr. is a Los Angeles-based graphic designer whose work is steeped in the DIY ethic and the principle that things are never made and always earned.
Dylan Houser, also known as PinkSinks, was born in the ‘80s and raised in the ‘90s in sunny California. Drawing from his playfully self-deprecating esthetic, you’ll find his art often inspired by strikeouts and home runs, head banging and sappy sing-alongs, puppy dogs and scary monsters.
Jeremy Dean is a Philadelphia area artist and designer. He runs a small t-shirt project called DES, and is best known for his “Wonders of Black Flag” t-shirts, a mashup of iconography that explores the cultural crossover between Black Flag and the Grateful Dead. He also makes zines under the name The Hardcore Archaeologist.
Known for his rock graphics, Australian artist Seldon Hunt has created intricate artworks for bands like Neurosis, Earth, and the Melvins. The UO Blog caught up with him at his Brooklyn studio space to chat about his latest work.
Known for his vintage-inspired concert posters and illustrations, San Diego artist Dustyn Peterman creates colorful graphics tinged with psychedelia. The UO Blog chats with Dustyn about his latest work for our Artist Editions series.
Known for his longtime work with Adult Swim, So-Cal designer Taylor Johnson joins the ranks of UO's Artist Editions series and chats with the UO Blog about his design inspirations.
Dale Dreiling is a painter, illustrator, sculptor, pin maker and graphic artist. His inspiration comes from Expressionism along with Pop, Funk and Punk Art movements. He’s an art director for Studio Number One and co-founder and creative director for Last Call Co., and works between Ventura and Los Angeles, CA.
Artist and photographer William Keihn helped define the visual aesthetic of the underground West Coast rock scene during the late 00's and early 10's. The UO Blog caught up with the artist at his new home in Nashville, TN to discuss his Artist Editions designs and his latest photo work.
In a private studio within our Home Office, our design team is free to explore new aesthetics - to experiment with color and form, line and technique, to allow creativity to flow and inspiration to strike. Anthropologie's "Meet the Maker" series highlights these collections along with artist collaborations exclusive to Anthropologie.
Anthropologie collaborated with Phoenix-born fashion designer Whitney Pozgay to create a line of printed pieces that illustrate her always-bold and fiercely feminine aesthetic. Her energizing approach to colors and shapes showcases the kaleidoscopic nature of both urban and uninhabited landscapes, and the clean-lined silhouette of each piece exhibits a refinement that’s undoubtedly modern. Seeking to inspire an artistic lifestyle with each of her creations, she drew inspiration for this collection of prints from hot air balloons, the Sahara and geometric body paint.
This luminescent collection represents a collaboration with Lindsay Emery, the North Carolina-based ceramicist at the helm of Suite One Studio. Each and every only-here piece is inspired by watercolor paintings and finished with a flourish of genuine gold.
Born of appreciation for cultural art and natural aesthetics, Los Angeles studio All Roads Design is renowned for their ability to pair handmade with high-style. Founders Robert Dougherty and Janelle Pietrzak combine their backgrounds in carpentry, welding and textile sourcing to create custom furnishings and one-of-a-kind decor that never fails to catch the eye.
The daughter of designers, Paloma Lanna grew up surrounded by art, fashion and beauty in San Sebastian. Although she now calls Barcelona home, not all that much has changed. “Right now my studio is full of women, light and flowers—it’s so messy!” she tells us. “I can see Gaudí’s ‘La Pedrera’ from my window.” Are we jealous? Yes, of course, but we expected no less from the designer and photographer behind Paloma Wool. Inspired by modern portraiture, her latest collection of casual-cool basics is as refreshing as spring itself.
All it takes is one look at the Voutsa collection of upholstery, dinnerware and wall art to see: it’s undeniably full of life. With its high-intensity colors and motifs of whimsical creatures, it’s no surprise that "The Walls are Alive" is the wallpaper company’s official motto.
Founded by elusive French designer Claudine Bertinotti Lenoble, the innovative label Nocturne crafts statement pieces to decorate both your jewellery box and your wardrobe. Think classic European sensibilities, infused with hand-finished Asian craftsmanship and you’re there. With Creative Director Catherine Howkins at the helm and a head office at the heart of East London’s creativity, Nocturne is storming through the sea of womenswear brands and we’re right on board.
We first fell in love with the works of South African artist Ruan Hoffmann in 2011 when he was featured in our Rockefeller Center store gallery. A veritable master at combining traditional craftsmanship with modern art, the Johannesburg artist continues to span the surfaces of everything from ceramics to paper goods with his exquisite motifs.
From garden designer to tableware painter, Michelle Morin abides by one failsafe rule: paint what you know. Each of her compositions are inspired by nature, whether that’s the wildlife thriving in her New England back garden or the flora and fauna she stumbles across during leisurely walks.
We can’t help but smile each time we catch sight of the color-drenched flowers, fruits and waterfowl that grace the packaging of our Tinted Lip Treatment and Royal Apothic Eau De Parfum. Lucky for us, the mind behind these sunny prints, Kendra Dandy, lives right in our hometown of Philadelphia, so it was easy to have a proper sit-down and find out more about her undeniably cheery art.
Take a glance at our windows, a peek at our homewares or peruse our fashion favorites and you’ll soon pick up a not-so-subtle theme: we’re obsessed with everything flora and fauna.
Our latest collaboration with illustrator Shelley Steer pays testimony to this fixation, bringing vibrant colour, wild foliage and hide-and-seek critters to the Modern Wilderness print.
For Anthropologie's exlusive collaborarion for Well-Kept Screen Cleansing Towelettes, designer Alana McCann was inspired by Mid-century-West-Coast summer fun, the Beach Boys, and surfboards. Her background is in graphic design but there’s always been some element of illustration or a touch-of-the-hand within her work which was what drew us to her for this collaboration.
Though technically an illustrator and designer by trade, we consider Parisian artist Florence Balducci to be a professional visionary. Her whimsical works of art recall her lifelong love of literature, composition and fashion, while suggesting a magpie's eye for all things charming and peculiar.
Baggu is an environmentally conscious bag design company, based in Brooklyn, NY and San Francisco, CA. Founders, Emily Sugihara (born entrepreneur and Parsons fashion grad) and her mom Joan (master seamstress), set out in 2007 to share the minimalist bags they were sewing for themselves with bag enthusiasts everywhere. They’re committed to making quality bags with as little waste as possible. From their design process in which they reuse leather scraps to eliminate fabric waste, to shipping where they use only minimal packaging – even their home office is almost entirely paper free.
Photos by Julia Robbs
Baggu’s mission is to make simple, high quality bags in bright colors that feel good to use. Their bags are durable, low-waste and multi-purpose.
Baggu cuts their fabrics and leather to maximize use and minimize waste. For example, the pouches that their Baby, Standard, and Big BAGGUs come in are sewn from what would have been wasted fabric left from the handle cut out of the flat pattern of those bags.
For their leather bags, they cut large bags out first, and then cut our smaller purses and pouches from the left over smaller pieces to use as much of the leather as possible. Click here to see how these bags come to life.
For their leather bags, they cut large bags out first, and then cut our smaller purses and pouches from the left over smaller pieces to use as much of the leather as possible. Click here to see how these bags come to life.
It’s a great approach financially as well as ecologically — because the more they can get out of the leather, the less they can charge for their bags.
Baggu cuts their fabrics and leather to maximize use and minimize waste. For example, the pouches that their Baby, Standard, and Big BAGGUs come in are sewn from what would have been waste fabric left from the handle cut out of the flat pattern of those bags.
In addition to Baggu's bag production methods, they keep their packaging as minimal as possible – just enough to keep the bags from getting damaged in transit and nothing more.
Today, BAGGU has evolved into a bona fide design house that works in tons of different materials, shapes, sizes, patterns, and colors.
Baggu’s leather line is produced entirely in the USA, right in the heart of New York City.
URBN is proud to partner with vendors around the world who have a mission to sustainably source their products while at the same time supporting local communities where the goods are produced. A perfect example of this is the Urban Outfitters brand relationship with Della, an LA-based fashion line founded in 2009 by Tina Tangalakis, a former wardrobe stylist who was looking to mix her love of design and humanitarian work after a visit to Ghana in 2009. There, inspired by the friendships she had made, Tina created Della, a company focused on creating great fashion and helping the people of Hohoe, Ghana, where Della’s products are made.
Photos by Angi Welsch
Urban Outfitters sells many Della products, known for their exceptional quality and careful handcrafting using authentic, local textiles.
Urban Outfitters is proud that the proceeds from Della products help provide employment, education and financial stability to the women of Hohoe, Ghana.
Urban Outfitters is proud that the proceeds from Della products go toward providing employment, education and financial stability to the women of Hohoe, Ghana.
The education, skills training and jobs that Della provides to its women artisans are helping to build a stronger foundation for the community.
URBN supports Della, and other vendors like them, who believe that there is space in the global marketplace for socially responsible sourcing.
The education, skills training and jobs that Della provides to its women artisans are helping to build a stronger foundation for the community.
The education, skills training and jobs that Della provides to its women artisans are helping to build a stronger foundation for the community.
URBN supports Della, and other vendors like them, who believe that there is space in the global marketplace for socially responsible sourcing.
Free People’s New Romantics line, includes a range of limited edition designs that are the original work of some of the most skilled craftspeople in Bhuj, India. Working with Dr. Ismail Mohammad Khatri and his sons at their workshop in the Kutch region in India, the collection is inspired by and made in collaboration with the Khatri family who have been practicing the craft of traditional Ajrakh block printing for 14+ generations. Exquisite hand-loomed, hand-blocked printed designs in organic dyes, which are made entirely by hand, provide steady employment for local craftspeople.
Photos by John Ciuppa
Ajrakh is a 12+ step process of printing, dying, drying in the sun. The designs are hand carved on wood blocks and just one design might require 8 blocks. And everything is hand applied and hand washed, including the the printing pigments.
Ajrakh is a 12+ step process of printing, dying, drying in the sun. The designs are hand carved on wood blocks and just one design might require 8 blocks. And everything is hand applied and hand washed, including the the printing pigments.
The fabrics are all hand loomed, hand dyed, made of fine silk or cotton silk blend. The print pigments are all natural and the hand printed batik effect is like nothing our customer has ever seen before. The silhouettes are all Free People classics.
The fabrics are all hand loomed, hand dyed, made of fine silk or cotton silk blend. The print pigments are all natural and the hand printed batik effect is like nothing our customer has ever seen before. The silhouettes are all Free People classics.
Each design can vary in terms of how long it takes to create – especially with factors like the weather and the pH of the local water which can vary on any given day. Sometimes pigments change slightly based on the mineral content of the water during a particular time of year.
The cloth is really the soul of the line – we look at each print, study the fabric, see how it drapes and let the fabrics inform the final product. India provides endless inspiration from textiles and antique embellishments.
In June 2016, Urban Outfitters (UO) introduced their latest in-house brand, Rework. Using sustainable and vintage fabrics reworked by the in-house design team, the initiative offers limited edition separates that can't be found elsewhere. Each collection is produced from limited runs of remnant fabric allowing each creation to be special. Sourced and made in the UK, it’s a great way for UO to support local businesses while creating inspirational and timeless clothing. Note: the collection is currently only available in Europe.
Each collection is produced from limited runs of remnant fabric allowing each creation to be unique and special.
The debut collection integrates neutral tones of chambray, navy and grey with soft tailoring, taking on a more refined approach.
Rework caters to those conscious who about the environment but not willing to compromise on style.
The Rework collection is a starting point to bring back "freedom of design" in a responsible and exciting way.
Sourced and made in the UK, Rework is a great way for Urban Outfitters to support local businesses.
Madalynne is the manifestation of Maddie Flanigan's passion for making lingerie. Based in Philadelphia, she is the founder, owner and seamstress behind the blog Madalynne, and has become known for her bra workshops that teach women how to sew their own lingerie from start to finish. She channeled her vision and technical expertise into creating her very own lingerie line. Over the past year, Maddie has been working with Urban Outfitters to bring an exclusive collection of some of her designs, featuring ultra-feminine fabrics and trims, to their intimates selection. The end result is tasteful, yet bold lingerie.
Photos by Melissa Anne Tilley, Heidi Lee and Love Me Do Photography
In Maddie’s words, the line is a “mix of sporty and feminine.”
Before taking on her line full time, Maddie interned at URBN and went on to manage the employee intranet. She was also the resident photographer and assisted with graphic design needs.
It was a natural progression for Maddie to start her own line. Not long after she started sewing lingerie, people asked her to make pieces for them.
All items from Madalynne’s personal intimates line are manufactured in the USA.
"The whole process was surreal," said Maddie, describing her experience working with Urban Outfitters. "I partnered with an awesome production team who not only sourced the best fabric and trims, but also ensured that the line stayed true to my vision."
Most of Maddie's designs come to life in her studio in Northern Philly. It is here, in an old factory that was turned into artist studios, where she crafts bits of lace, mesh, elastic and trims into unique designs.
Teaching is the most fulfilling thing in Maddie's life. She loves being able to watch her students succeed - to see them come in knowing very little about bra making and then leaving with the courage and knowledge to make their own bras is incredible.
Maddie's vision is to provide a means for women to either purchase lingerie or make their own.
"Urban Outfitters took note of my small, indie brand and gave me an opportunity. I feel so lucky," said Maddie.
Comprised of all-natural ingredients, Dr. Bronner's soaps strive to be healthy for both you and the environment, something they've been doing throughout their impressive 150-year history. Urban Outfitters is proud to sell Dr. Bronner's soaps, products that are good for both consumers and the environment. Dr. Bronner’s is committed to promoting and advancing positive social change - from pioneering USDA certified organic personal care products, to creating Fair Trade projects across the world that ensure fair and just treatment of farmers and workers, to creating a socially responsible workplace in the U.S.
A family business, Dr. Bronner’s fights for integrity in personal care, promotion of authentic Fair Trade, re-commercialization of industrial hemp in the U.S., labeling genetically engineered foods (those containing GMOs), animal rights and protection.
Dr. Bronner’s all-natural multi-use soap can be used to clean just about anything from your hair, face and body to your dishes, laundry and even your pets!
Dr. Bronner's cruelty-free, biodegradable, vegan soap contains no synthetic preservatives, detergents or foaming agents.
Should you catch a seasonal cold or flu, using Castile soap can be a great way to avoid a run to the pharmacy for a decongestant. Eucalyptus (as well as Peppermint) have a menthol effect great for clearing out the sinuses.
Other important causes to Dr. Bronner’s include environmental protection, youth support programs, peace and human rights campaigns, anti-poverty initiatives, and generally promoting social justice and equality in the U.S. and abroad.
Brooklyn-based STATE was created to address the immediate needs of American children living with challenging – and in some cases critical – circumstances. STATE Bags creates sturdy backpacks and pouches in standout canvas colors and for every bag purchased, they hand-deliver a backpack filled with essential tools to a child in need. Urban Outfitters is proud to sell STATE Bags to help give back to children so deserving of this cause.
STATE began as a partnership between husband and wife team, Scot and Jacq Tatelman. These social entrepreneurs have eyes trained for style, but their hearts have always been with kids growing up in America's most underfunded neighborhoods.
In 2009 Scot and Jacq founded Country Roads Foundation, a nonprofit that has served thousands of New York City kids. After watching kids carrying their possessions in ripped trash bags, they formed STATE, a company that promises to deliver much needed supplies while providing youth with tools to reach their fullest potential and better their communities. And to always have their backs.
STATE’s commitment goes beyond a material donation. Their bag drop events are where the real impact is made. A team of “PackMen” and "PackWomen" lead motivational rallies that leave kids with a renewed spirit and belief in themselves (as well as new STATE backpacks).
STATE Bags is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, accompanied by fellow companies creating public significance by having a material, positive impact on society.
Check out the UO and STATE Bag partnership. In addition, visit the STATE Bag blog and follow them on Instagram.
Urban Outfitters is proud to partner with Connor Franta's apparel line, Common Culture, for a product release of 5 exclusive items. All proceeds will be donated to GLSEN, a non-profit that's working to affect positive change for LGBTQ children in schools.
In 2010, Connor Franta changed the Internet. The 24-year-old vlogger and activist started posting weekly videos for his burgeoning fanbase, touching on the subjects that mattered most as a young person. His videos about his experience coming out, moving out on his own (complete with a firsthand tour of his new apartment), even a video for his future children all have garnered well over millions of views in the past six years, and that's just a short list of his material.
Urban Outfitters teamed up with Connor and his lifestyle brand to present Common Culture + Urban Outfitters, five unique items including a tee, sweatshirt, pullover hoodie and two baseball hats, all for sale online and in select stores starting Giving Tuesday (November 29, 2016). The product will be released in eight UO locations total, going to Seattle, Chicago, Orlando, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Austin, NYC, and Mall of America.
In 1990, a group of Massachusetts educators met to address the unmet needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students in the hallways and classrooms of K-12 schools, thus forming an organization which would be known as GLSEN. 100% of profits from this partnership will go to GLSEN.
The excitement is palpable at each stop along the four store Common Culture Tour as fans wait in lines that zig, zag, and wrap around full city blocks then finally into our stores.
Hundreds of fans held phones high above their heads reaching to get a shot of the entrepreneur they'd been waiting hours to see: Connor Franta. When the moment finally came to meet their idol, some shed tears, others fell to the floor, and even more were left speachless. Re-live the excitement, hugs and cutest gifting moments on the UO Blog.
One of Urban Outfitters’ (UO) earliest partners in Own Brand sourcing began over 15 years ago with Fessler, a knitter out of Allentown, PA , who made a popular UOW rib tank program, using a knitting process called “tubular.” As trends and sourcing strategies changed, the tank program wound down. However, with a recent resurgence of the tubular tank program and the UO sourcing department having been collaborating with some of the original affiliates from the Fessler days, it only made sense to explore local options again since UO supports domestic manufacturing. After initial ramp up of the program, we're now able to deliver inventory in just two weeks.
A great example of the tubular knitting work, and exclusive to Urban Outfitters, is this Out From Under V-neck racerback style in a slim fit finished with banded edges.
An image of FesslerUSA's circular rib and jersey knitting machines. FesslerUSA is a family owned and operated business and is a full-package supplier of knitted fabrics and apparel for more than 100 brands and retailers.
Another example of tubular knitting, this slim ribbed tank top is perfect for layering or lounging by Out From Under, exclusive to UO.
This slim ribbed tank top is great for layering or lounging and features a v-neck racerback style in a slim fit, finished with banded edges.
Grunge gets femme with this ribbed slip dress by Out From Under, available only at Urban Outfitters, which features a scoop neck style in a snug, clingy fit with tank straps.
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