Bonpoint Adopts a Panda

A Chinese artist and French couturier pull off a charming symbiosis

Children’s couture house Bonpoint has done it again—striking that perfect balance between whimsy and sophistication. This time, however, the “whimsy” side of the equation may be a bit more potent, as chief designer Christine Innamorato has enlisted the collaboration of Chinese artist Jiji. Renowned for her historically charged “Hi Panda” series, Jiji is best known for depicting expressionless (yet impeccably accessorized!) pandas—a hint towards the narcissism and confusion of China’s generation “Y.” 

While the simple lines of Jiji’s icons are intended to echo the pared-down aesthetic of the Industrial Revolution, they also—conveniently for all involved—translate beautifully to fabric. All items in the so-called Hi Panda by Bonpoint collection (set to hit stores later this month) depict Jiji’s pandas, printed in plum and indigo hues onto soft, earth-tones fabrics. And while the offerings—which include short- and long-sleeved t-shirts designed by Innamorato herself, as well as baby pajamas—are undeniably easy to don, beating the crowds may prove a little harder. —Lucie Alig