With its easy silhouette and effortlessly cool look, the bomber jacket has been a Mira Mikati signature since the beginning–it’s what the brand’s Creative Director likes to think of as the modern answer to the blazer. Making it her mission to elevate the sporty staple each season, Mikati enlisted the help of Australian artist Darcel Disappoints for her Autumn 2015 varsity jacket project, and this time around, renowned American artist KAWS.

“I’ve been a huge fan for his work for some time – I started collecting his toys over ten years ago,” says Mikati. “So working with him on this was really a dream come true.”

The vibrant, saturated colour and playful nature of KAWS’ art is a natural fit for Mira Mikati, where optimism and carefree exuberance are fundamental to her designs. “I love the fact that his pieces are always so happy, and full of my favourite cartoon characters: Snoopy, SpongeBob, The Smurfs, Mickey Mouse…,” say Mikati. “He adapts that childlike world so that adults can be part of the fun, too.”

A combination of appliqué, print, and intricate embroidery were used to recreate the distinctive palette of KAWS’ paintings, and each of the three jackets in the collection reflects a different aspect of his canvas from front to back. “I love that his work appears to be so understated. Take a closer look though, and you’ll see each piece is perfectly painted, layer upon layer – you’d think a computer might have done it,” says Mikati. “And that’s similar to the way I approach a collection – the overall effect has a sense of ease, but the details are important inside and out.”