The British designer collaborates with Tate to transform William Blake’s timeless art into a modern capsule collection.
Summary
- Designer Bianca Saunders collaborates with Tate to launch a four-piece capsule rooted in the art of William Blake.
- The collection reworks Blake’s “The Good and Evil Angels” and “The Simoniac Pope” into wearable items like a jumper, long-sleeve tee, hat, and scarf.
- It launches exclusively via Tate’s retail stores on October 23, marking the first of a new series of fashion-led projects at Tate.
When Bianca Saunders steps into the gallery space of Tate rather than the showroom floor, she makes something different: a capsule that connects menswear with art. Her upcoming collaboration with Tate centers on two works by William Blake, The Good and Evil Angels (c. 1795–1805) and The Simoniac Pope (1824–27).
Instead of placing Blake’s imagery directly on clothing, Saunders distills it into four pieces: a cotton-blend jumper, a 100% cotton long-sleeve tee, a wool-blend hat, and a scarf. The focus is a non-gendered approach that extends beyond menswear, reflecting her view of clothing as inclusive through both form and function.
Saunders describes the project as a dialogue between her design practice and Blake’s spiritual imagery. It is an effort to take art once meant for contemplation and translate it into garments made for daily life. “This capsule celebrates both art and everyday life,” she said, “offering pieces that are deeply considered yet designed to be worn and lived in.”
For Tate, the collaboration is not about merchandise but about fostering creative exchange. Rosey Blackmore, Director of Licensing and Merchandise at Tate, called Saunders’ approach “multidisciplinary thinking that we champion… bringing Blake’s legacy into the present through wearable thoughtful design.”
Set to launch on October 23, the capsule will be sold exclusively through Tate’s retail stores. It marks the first in a new series of design-led collaborations, following earlier partnerships with Jenny Holzer, Lazy Oaf, and Swatch.
