Smiley Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary With Expansive Multi-Brand Collection
With a helping hand from house friends such as Moschino, Palm Angels, Carolina Herrera, Raf Simons, and more. ?
You know it, you love it, you can’t escape it–the iconic Smiley face has been around for many generations to cherish and adore since the 1970s, with its instantly recognizable yellow round face that reminds you of the simple (yet, undeniably impactful) gesture to evoke a sense of happiness for all. And with 2022 marking Smiley’s 50th anniversary of its adorable existence, The Smiley Company is taking the time to smile by reminding us all of its longstanding place in the realm of pop culture with a new collection spanning across the mediums of fashion, sports, music, art, and technology.
Placed among some of the world’s highest tastemakers, the new 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition lineup features covetable and limited products from the genius minds and partnerships of more than 50 brand collaborations.
Fashion houses including Michael Kors, Sandro Paris, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, Karl Lagerfeld, and more
Streetwear brands such as MA®KET, Eastpak, Champion, New Era, and more
Beauty and jewelry products from 212 by Carolina Herrera, Ciate, and Messika
Tech and fashion accessories from Happy Plugs, Casetify, Thierry Lasry, and more
Home and design pieces from The Skateroom, Yellowpop, and Seletti
Not only splashed across the luxe pieces of some of the globe’s finest brands, the Smiley face has also had some work done to honor its semi-centennial–having been remixed by world-renowned artist, André Saraiva. Known for his specialty medium of graffiti and his earlier work in the early Parisian graffiti movement with the birth of his muse and cartoon character “Mr. A”, the Swedish-French artist joins forces with Sarah Andelman, the creative director of Parisian concept store Colette, to creatively honor a new chapter for the Smiley house–having each brand incorporate and adapt Saraiva’s artwork into their unique designs.
Having been created back in 1972 by French journalist Franklin Loufrani, the simple Smiley grew up to be a graphic design that emotionally and creatively brought people from all over together for a sense of unity—I mean, just think about how often you use a smiley emoji or find the face on takeout bags and streetwear t-shirts. From its widespread use back in the 1990s to the present day, all thanks to Franklin’s son Nicolas who took the helm to help Smiley reach even bigger scales, Smiley continues to unite the world for ages to come.
For a full list of designers included in the Collector’s Edition and to learn more about The Smiley Company, visit smiley.com
The collection is now available on each designers’ retail site, beginning from February 22. Pieces from the collection will also be available in select Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com, beginning March 4.