Gucci's Hommage to Label's Adidas Collaboration Circa 1993
Madonna and her son, David Banda
The intentions of Label, which emerged from the DIY movement of the early 90s, sought to dissolve the boundaries of high and low culture and create an inclusive realm where the power of branding and the dangerous hold it had over society was put into question.
Spurred by Guy Debord and Derrida, Label sought to recontextualize the icons and phenomenologies of consumer culture, retooling their energy to tell new stories seeking to dismantle a blinding psychic hold. Label sought to take on the most notable logos and brands creating a disambiguation of their objectives, shocking the senses through the unfamiliar so as to open a portal of paradigm shifts that would undermine the oppressive systems of the past. As a young woman, many of Whitcomb's directives sought to overcome particularly patriarchal and racist systems that were sustained through the mass culture image making machine. Her early collections sought to remodel masculine and hierarchical codes in culture offering products that were made outside the mass manufacturing system. Most importantly, it empowered young entrepreneurs to create their own brands which would be self-sustaining and promote the ideologies which had arisen from the club culture consciousness that was birthed in the late 80s and fueled the strong anti establishment communities of the 90s that sought to enlist radical change.
The purity of this idealism eventually became corrupted by consumer demand and the motivations slowly themselves became victims of this process of commodification. Label started to see that the irony factor of appropriation was becoming an endorsement rather than a questioning of the shadow of our culture. Whitcomb decided to retreat to Label's original objectives to catalyze paradigm shifts through the message of clothing which would be supported by art shows mirroring its like minded themes. Equally important, Label's retreat sought to encourage others to place above all cause the importance of finding an autonomous voice as inevitably this is the redemption of the creative path. Whitcomb started focussing on the language of form and line in her cuts while looking to ancient hermetic symbols and appropriating images of resistance as visual platforms and largely making one off pieces.
The last decade has seen a pinnacle of what had seemingly begun with Label's collaboration with Adidas in 1993. This collection reconfigured one of the most iconic staples of culture which itself had become a symbol of a powerful uniform of a youth culture movement that would further the objectives of the Civil Rights movement to mass appeal in one of the most empowering movements. The dress came to symbolize the inclusion of women into this revolutionary platform and ultimately resonated with women as a collective symbol of empowerment.
Label continues to seek the dissolution of boundaries and appreciates the generous acknowledgement of Alessandro Michele who strives for further inclusion and the breaking down of the boundaries of gender for a brand that prioritizes inclusion.
Tyra Banks wearing the original Label + Adidas dress
Historic Adidas Collaboration
Laura Whitcomb was the first designer to ever collaborate with the Adidas brand. Her Adidas dress was worn by Mariah Carey, Tyra Banks, Madonna, Kim Gordon, Björk, Yo-Yo, Wynona Ryder, and others…

Laura Whitcomb British Telegraph 1994

Label by Laura Whitcomb Adidas Dress German Vogue 1993

Tyra Banks models Label for The Source 1993

Tommy Boy Records Invite for Label by Laura Whitcomb NY fashion week show at the Supperclub 1993

Kim Gordon wearing Label by Laura Whitcomb Adidas dress 1993

Yo-Yo, Spin Magazine, 1993, Photo Cheryl Dunn


Nicky Taylor, Navia Nguyen American Vogue 1993

Guru and Heather B. Spin Magazine 1993

Rap Pages 1992


Luscious Jackson, Guru Heather B Spin 1993

Ali Larter Mirabella 1994

Label by Laura Whitcomb Adidas Collaboration New York Magazine 1993

Ali Larter Label by Laura Whitcomb Photo Dah Len 1992

Label by Laura Whitcomb, Model Ali LarterPhoto Cheryl Dunn, 1993

Ali Larter Photo Label by Laura Whitcomb Cheryl Dunn

Ali Larter Photo Label by Laura Whitcomb Cheryl Dunn

Ali Larter Photo Label by Laura Whitcomb Cheryl Dunn


Laura Whitcomb feature Mirabella Magazine 1993 Photo Steven Klein

Label by Laura Whitcomb NY Fashion Week Show at Edison Ballroom presented by Tommy Boy Records 1993

Liv Tyler YM Magazine 1993

Luscious Jackson Spin magazine 1993

Label by Laura Whitcomb Spanish Vogue 1994

Label by Laura Whitcomb



Label by Laura Whitcomb Sassy Magazine 1993


Label by Laura Whitcomb Allure Magazine 1993

Cosmopolitan and WWD 1993



Sketches requested by Madonna for her. ‘Girlie Tour.’

Sketches requested by Madonna for her. ‘Girlie Tour.’

Label by Laura Whitcomb Los Angeles Times Magazine 1993

Label by Laura Whitcomb Spread Paper Magazine 1993

Paper Magazine, 1993, Photographer Mark Contratto, Models Tara Charne Jennifer Gimenez, Kyrie, Loi.

Paper Magazine, 1993, Photographer Mark Contratto,


Madonna at Knicks 1993

Ny Times coverage of 1993 Label show the Supper Club presented by Tommy Boy Records



Project X 1992

Label by Laura Whitcomb, Mark Baptiste, 1994

Label by Laura Whitcomb, Model Sky Nellor, Adidas skirt Glamour Magazine

Kendahl Thompson King and Robyn wearing Label by Laura Whitcomb for Urb Magazine 1993
Adidas + Label NYC Collaboration Runway Show 1993
Label NYC + Playboy Runway Show
1993–2014 Archive

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2004

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2004

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2014

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2014

Label by Laura Whitcomb, Puck Building Show, Model on left Jamie King

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2014

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2014
Coverage of Playboy Show in playboy Magazine 1994
Coverage of Playboy Show in Playboy Magazine 1994
Interview Laura Whitcomb Vanity Fair 1994
Peace in the Mid East Campaign 1995, World Faith Collection, Photographer Jamil Gs
Peace in the Mid East Campaign 1995, World Faith Collection, Photographer Jamil Gs

Peace in the Mid East Campaign 1995, World Faith Collection, Photographer Jamil Gs

Label, The Revolutionaries Series, Nicole, Jocie and Joy Bryant
Bootsy Collins Label by Laura Whitcomb Playboy show 1994

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2006

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2006
Label by Laura Whitcomb, Model Nicole





Label Store 2003

Label by Laura Whitcomb stylist Vincent Oshin

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2003

Paper Magazine, International Banjee, 1995, Photographer Jamil Gs



Ruffle Dress 2005

The Face, 1995

The Face, 1995

Harold Hunter and friends 1994

Harold Hunter 1994


Paper Magazine, 1993 dress photographed 1997

Nicky Uberti

UPS Dress photograph Cheryl Dunn

Tara Charne wearing NASA Dress photo Cheryl Dunn

Paper Magazine, International Banjee, 1995, Photographer Cheryl Dunn

Paper Magazine, International Banjee, 1995, Photographer Cheryl Dunn

Stretch Wool Flange jacket, 2000

Coverage of Playboy Show in Playboy Magazine 1994

Coverage of Playboy Show in Playboy Beverley Peale, Eva Herzigowa, Bootsy Collins Magazine 1994

Label by Laura whitcomb Model Nicky Taylor, NY Fashion Week Bryant Park, 1994

Nicole in Revolutionaries Series Label, 1995

Nicole, Jocie and Joy Bryant Revolutionaries Series Label

Coverage of Playboy Show in Playboy Magazine 1994

Ezra in Label jacket and Vivienne Westwood stylist Vincent Oshin

Label by Laura Whitcomb NY Fashion Week show 2004 Stylist Racquel Honore

Label by Laura Whitcomb NY Fashion Week show 2004, Stylist Vincent Oshin

Label by Laura Whitcomb NY Fashion Week show 2004, Stylist Raquel Honore

Label by Laura Whitcomb NY Fashion Week show 2004, Stylist Vincent Oshin

Label by Laura Whitcomb NY Fashion Week show 2004, Stylist Vincent Oshin

Label by Laura Whitcomb Playboy show Bryant Park, 1994, Model Rachel Williams

Dye Cut Bird Skirt , Label by Laura Whitcomb NY Fashion Week show 2004, Stylist Racquel Honore

Label by Laura Whitcomb NY Fashion Week show 2004, Stylist Racquel Honore

LabeI by Laura Whitcomb, ID Magazine, 1996 Sticky Fingers of Onyx, Photo Jamil Gs

Label Advertisement, Dali and Fashion Show, 2004

Nicole, Jocie and Joy Bryant 'Revolutionaries Series' Label by Laura Whitcomb, Photo Simon Pendelton

Label by Laura Whitcomb, Camouflage Gown, 1993 , Photo Cheryl Dunn

UPS Dress, Model Tara Charne, 1993

Label by Laura Whitcomb, Amber Valetta, W Magazine, 1994

Amber Valetta, W Magazine, 1994

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2004

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2004

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2014

Label by Laura Whitcomb 2004


Keith Haring Estate Collaboration Sketch of Laura Whitcomb designs Christian Blanken

Keith Haring Estate Collaboration Sketch of Laura Whitcomb designs Christian Blanken

Keith Haring Estate Collaboration Sketch of Laura Whitcomb designs Christian Blanken

Keith Haring Estate Collaboration Sketch of Laura Whitcomb designs Christian Blanken

Keith Haring Estate Collaboration Sketch of Laura Whitcomb designs Christian Blanken

Keith Haring Estate Collaboration Sketch of Laura Whitcomb designs Christian Blanken

Keith Haring Knitwear design Laura Whitcomb

Bjork, Photo Snorri Brothers, 1997, Vanidades Magazine

House of Beauty and Culture 1987 Runway Show (Styled by Laura Whitcomb)
2003 Runway Show
2005 Runway Show
Label NYC

Label by Laura Whitcomb Trade Show Danny Ramirez

Label by Laura Whitcomb Baader Meinhoff Bag 1995

Label by Laura Whitcomb rusched bloomer shorts with Amber Halford collage exhibition Echo Park store 2010

Label by Laura Whitcomb dress collection 2005



Label Boutique and Gallery 2006

Label Boutique 1995

Revolutionaries Collection 1995

Label Boutique and gallery 2006


Label Store 2006

Label boutique and gallery 2006

Amber Halford Collage 2009

Label by Laura Whitcomb store opening poster 2006

Label Boutique 2005
Styling




Press

Interview


Feature Laura Whitcomb 1994


Mary Forsberg, Vogue Magazine, 1993

Harpers Bazaar 1996


Detaiis Magazine 1995

Kyrie in WWD Dress of the Day Laura Whitcomb, 1993

Leonardo Di Caprio and Bridget Hall attending Label by Laura Whitcomb 1993 Elle Magazine

NY Times 1994


Label by Laura Whitcomb, Seventeen Magazine, 1994

One World Magazine, 1996


New Yorker Reviews Laura Whitcomb Bryant Park Show, 1994


Paper Magazine 1994


Paper Magazine 1994

Vanity Fair Feature Laura Whitcomb Label






Project X , 1994, Styling Montgomery Fraser




Urb Magazine 1993

NY Times 1994