Frontal view of a male figure in a scrunchy cloth cap, belted safari-style jacket, dark ribbed turtleneck sweater, wide leg pants, thick socks and dark tie leather shoes stands with his right arm extended as though leaning against a wall, his left hand in his pocket, and left leg akimbo, so that his left foot is behind his right leg. The figure looks right, has a thick dark moustach and wears dark sunglasses. The drawing of the jacket is cross-hatched, suggesting a tweed or coarse woven fabric. The thick leather belt has is loosely fastened with a square buckle at the hip, with excess leather hanging down four to six inches. The drawing style is loose and actiive. The medium is graphite pencil, pen and ink, and the drawing is signed Willi Smith in pencil diagonally just below the right knee.

Object Timeline

1984	Work on this object began.
2019	We photographed this object.
2020	We exhibited this object.
2021	We acquired this object.
2024	You found it!

Drawing, Menswear Illustration, SUB-Urban Fall 1984 Collection, 1984

This is a drawing. It was designed by Willi Smith and made for WilliWear Ltd..

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Bill Bonnell as part of Willi Smith: Street Couture.

It is dated 1984 and we acquired it in 2021. Its medium is pen and ink, graphite on paper. It is a part of the department.

"Willi and I came up in fashion together. We were like brothers. When we were young, Willi would show me photographs of a shirt, pants, blazer, and I would ask, ‘Why would you want to make that stuff?’ He would respond, ‘Alvin, I want to dress people in the streets.’ Willi created pedestrian clothes—clothes for the average person. He always told me that he strove to be the ‘designer of the people.’"

—Alvin Bell, designer

This object was donated by Bill Bonnell. It is credited Gift of Bill Bonnell.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 27.9 × 21.6 cm (11 in. × 8 1/2 in.)

Cite this object as

Drawing, Menswear Illustration, SUB-Urban Fall 1984 Collection, 1984; Designed by Willi Smith; Made for WilliWear Ltd.; pen and ink, graphite on paper; H x W: 27.9 × 21.6 cm (11 in. × 8 1/2 in.) ; Gift of Bill Bonnell; 2021-35-5

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Willi Smith: Street Couture.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/4wUtam/
Accession Number 2021-35-5
Object ID 2318802378