A quick look at J Balvin’s Instagram – which is full of pictures showcasing his bright, colorful, and sometimes eclectic style – is enough to show that the reggaetonero has fully embraced the world of fashion. So when Colombian designer Esteban Cortázar invited Balvin to collaborate on a collection, the artist jumped at the chance. According to Complex, Balvin designed one piece, a hoodie, which is part of a larger, Colombian-themed pop-up event taking place at Colette – a beloved Parisian store long known as a symbol of cool. The shop, which announced today that it will shutter at the end of the year, transformed into a tiendita to highlight Colombian talent. From now until July 22, Colette is selling Balvin’s hoodie along with skateboards, books, furniture, and candy from the South American country.
In an interview with GQ, Balvin calls his contribution fun. “It’s bright,” he said. “It’s colorful. It’s happy.” It’s exactly the kind of thing you’d expect him to wear. The hot pink sweater has the word “parce” emblazoned on the sleeves. And the drawstring is pink, blue, yellow, and green – mimicking the colors throughout the sweatshirt.
For Balvin, the collaboration – and the tiendita as a whole – is more than just about flexing his muscles as a designer; it’s about using this platform to shape conversation about Colombia in a positive way.
If you can’t make it out to Colette before July 22, you can shop his hoodie online here. Or you can shop Colette’s entire Colombia Mi Amor collection here.