Music and fashion. Fashion and music. The two are intricately linked in how they influence one another. Despite this deep forged friendship, we barely see the two directly collaborate. Balenciaga is changing that. 

February 20th marked the launch of a collaboration between Balenciaga and the award winning composer and arranger Angelo Badalamenti. The project is a Balenciaga Music series with an original playlist that was hand selected by Badalamenti featuring a compilation of his own works. The playlist will be available for streaming and honors the legacy of Badalamenti who passed away a few years after the collaboration began. 

The project also features a limited edition Balencia Music x Angelo Badalamenti merch line that will be in stores and on Balenciaga’s website. The line incorporates a graphic based on Badalmentis hand scripted score “torch theme” on a series of t-shirts and crewneck hoodies. To advertise the merchandise, a campaign was photographed and filmed at the Manhattan School of Music with students from the school and Badalmenti’s family sporting the collection. 

The collaboration is also creating a master class program that invites people to compose works inspired by Badalmenti’s legacy. Sponsored by Balenciaga the class will be gratis for students at the Manhattan School of Music, Badalmenti’s alma mater.

After getting his masters and bachelors at the Manhattan School of Music in the 1950s Badalmenti worked with David Lynch to soundtrack the film Blue Velvet. He won a grammy award for best Pop Instrumental Performance for the Twin Peaks theme and has many other lifetime achievements. This collaboration will continue to spread his life’s work with the world and teach people the power of music.