Cinelli and Futura Laboratories have partnered to get their Ya-Ya’s Out with a new collection of apparel that combines “performance and style, street art and bicycle design”.
Futura Laboratories is helmed by renown NYC artist, Leonard Hilton McGurr, a life-long cycling enthusiast himself, having traversed the city’s street as a bike messenger during the 80’s before reaching artistic prominence.
Together with the storied Italian brand, Futura Laboratories has launched three distinctive designs called Spiral, Domestiq and Noseeum, which comprise the Futura Spiral Cap, the Futura Spiral Tech Tee, the Futura Domestiq Cap, the Futura Domestiq Bibshort, the Bibshort Race Cargo with pocket and hi-visibility details for greater safety on the road, a Paris HP Interface chamois, the Futura Domestiq Jersey. bar tape and gloves.
Best, the garments are made entirely in Italy with ecological packaging and 100% recyclable bio-based plastic.
Cinelli’s team spoke with Futura about the art of cycling…
You were among the first graffiti artists to evolve hip-hop-style lettering into abstract forms. How was it perceived back then?
My work was not immediately well-received and what I was attempting to do, was unorthodox. However, I was consciously expressing my creativity in a very different way.
Your Futura Laboratories is also fashion-adjacent. Street art has influenced fashion for decades. How do you see the relationship between street art and fashion evolve in our hyper-connected world?
Based on previous examples and what my feelings are, street culture will always dictate its direction in fashion, be it hi or lo. As for Futura Laboratories, specifically, it also finds a home in many other locations outside of what may be the normal avenues we find in the streets.
What inspired you to design this collection?
My love of the kit and a lifelong desire to design the complete ensemble: hat, gloves, maillot, and bib. So thrilled it’s with Antonio and Cinelli.
How did you get in contact with Antonio Colombo? Was it because of your common friend [Keith Haring]?
Yes, we met in the late 80’ at Keith’s studio. We would finally come together again, decades later through a fantastic sequence of events. Let’s just say that over the last few years we have been building towards this fantastic collaboration.
What’re the best places in the world that you’ve ridden by bicycle?
Most of my serious European riding was done in the south of France. [Around] that time I also had a memorable ride from Monaco to Ventimiglia. Also took my frames to Tokyo, Toronto, and Guatemala.
What is the perception of historic Italian bicycles makers in NY?
NY has nothing but respect for the culture, the language, the history. ITALIAN BICYCLES are the HOLY GRAILS of the CRAFT. So many fabulous frames and master craftsmen and fabrication and BASTA, let’s eat.
Do bicycles help you connect with the city streets?
Sure, that feeling and freedom of movement at one’s own power and ability. nothing can duplicate that. Riding for fun or riding for distance, training or touring, and of course, the Pro Circuit — wow, those speeds. I’m lucky if I can average 20 mph. (laughs)
Do you think there’s a specific love affair between bicycles and the NY art scene?
It’s not just NYC, look at San Francisco. Look at all the other cities around the globe. Riding your bike around in all these locations is even more of a thing now than ever before: crews, clubs, and alley cat races.
Urban cycling has boomed throughout the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think it will last?
Cycling has become a solution. I mean, it always was, but now urgent necessity has made it most popular. Only time will tell. Keep up the cadence and stay hydrated.
The limited edition collection is only available on Cinelli Official Store, Futura Laboratories, OneBlockDown Online Store, Bicycle Film Festival Store.
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