Toronto Sportswear Brand Bustle Drops Cheeky Collaboration with Playboy
In popular culture, Playboy magazine’s nudity has long overshadowed whatever else filled its pages, namely its ground-breaking use of illustration and graphic design (and, surprisingly, quality journalism). Under founding art director Art Paul, whose 29-year stint at the magazine began in 1953, Playboy netted plenty of design awards and saw its logo – that unmistakable bow-tied bunny, designed by Paul – become one of the most recognizable icons in the world. Today, the logo endures, often said to be on par with Nike’s swoosh and Apple’s apple. But despite its status as a design icon, Playboy had never collaborated with a Canadian brand until now, unveiling a new sportswear collection with Toronto label Bustle in late October.
Photo: Jenna Ledger
Founded by husband and wife duo Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow in 2002, Bustle has designed a collection of vintage-tinted sportswear, from tracksuits to knit blazers and even a letterman jacket, which nods to Playboy’s history and its place within our cultural memory. Expectedly, the collection gets plenty of use out of the iconic bunny logo: flipping it into a patterned print on a bomber jacket or along the taping of jogger pants. Also included in the collection is a line of accessories, from toques to duffle bags that bare the brand’s logo.
Playboy may be more associated with getting undressed, but the Bustle x Playboy collaboration gives fans of the brand a reason to layer up. Those looking to get their hands on the collection can find it at Bustle’s flagship shop in Toronto’s Stackt Market, which to celebrate the occasion has been decorated with iconic covers and images from the magazine’s past.
The Playboy x Bustle boutique is open now until through the end of December.
Photo and lead image: Alejandro Collados Nuñez
