Sweden's H&M teams up with Rop van Mierlo for whimsical collection

28 Mar '24

3 min read

Pic: H&M

Insights

H&M teams up with artist Rop van Mierlo for a whimsical kidswear line, inspired by his 'Wild Animals' paintings.
Bursting with vibrant colors and imaginative prints, the collection offers a range of playful pieces including tees, sweaters, swimwear, and accessories, inviting young explorers to embrace their creativity and embark on exciting adventures.

H&M is pleased to present an imaginative kidswear collaboration with Dutch artist Rop van Mierlo. Featuring creative prints adapted from van Mierlo’s ‘Wild Animals’ project, a free-spirited series of watercolour paintings of animals on wet paper, the collection combines colourful graphics and original hand-drawn patterns to magical effect. Encompassing sizes for kids and babies, the collection is defined by modern shapes. It spans T-shirts, sweaters and shorts alongside versatile tie-detail dresses and a wrap skort, accompanied by vibrant swimwear and accessories. The Rop van Mierlo x H&M kidswear collection will launch in stores and at hm.com from 4 April 2024.

When I created the Tiger, my first 'Wild Animals' painting, in 2008, it was purely a concept – I was trying to express an untamable animal in an untamable medium, using a wet-on-wet technique that I learnt at school as a child. Over the years, my series ‘Wild Animals’ has grown into a crazy-big body of work. I’m excited to present my work to a bigger audience in a more affordable way with this H&M collection,” says artist Rop van Mierlo.

Light-hearted in spirit and uniquely collectible in style, the collection’s key looks pair simple silhouettes with lightweight fabrics energised by joyful colour and bold print. Five paintings are featured – including a jaguar, a zebra, a horse, two baby goats and a butterfly – as well as new works comprising hand-painted stripes, tie-dye-style prints and a paisley bandana. T-shirts in organic cotton are the hero items, each printed with a vibrant and unique animal painting, while eye-catching repeat pattern zebras and jaguars appear across a swimming costume, trunks and a bucket hat. Two terry sweater-and-shorts sets feature the bold tie-dye print. Meanwhile the hand-painted stripes appear in an earthy colour palette on a linen-mix dress with ribbon-tie straps, a relaxed shirt and shorts combo, a wrap skort and a baseball cap. In accessories, a zebra-print tote bag and bandana will be favourites for the whole family.

“The H&M design team fell in love with Rop van Mierlo’s inventive paintings of animals – some fluffy and cute, some intriguing and mysterious. We’re thrilled to share a curated mix of his most recognisable paintings as well as distinctive new works to our younger customers with a very wearable collection that captures the charm of his series called ‘Wild Animals’. We hope these pieces encourage a spirit of adventure and artistic experimentation,” says Sofia Löfstedt, Head of Kidswear Design and Creative at H&M.