About the collaboration and the designer

Leanne Shapton joined The New York Review of Books as its first-ever art editor two years ago, bringing an energetic, often effervescent array of new artists to the magazine. The fashion designer Rachel Comey, taking notice of the new covers, approached Shapton about using Review covers for a line of her clothing and accessories. The success of the original project — the items were sold in Rachel Comey shops and online — prompted a further collaboration, resulting in the creation of four original items, two totes and two scarves based on issue covers, exclusively for the Review.

Rachel Comey is an American independent fashion designer based in New York City. She is the founder of the eponymous clothing, shoes and accessories brand known for its “intellectual, arts-and-crafts aesthetic.”

“There’s something about her clothes that feels effortless and sophisticated, like what I imagine a gallery owner in the late ‘80s would wear,” a friend of mine who’s a book editor said…. You could easily substitute theater director or architect for gallery owner in that sentence. (For that matter, you could also substitute book editor.)—Harper’s Bazaar.