"My whole life I have done nothing but interpret my dreams of ultimate masculinity, and draw them."—TOM OF FINLAND

Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen, Finnish, 1920—1991), is the creator of some of the most iconic, unrestrained, and readily recognizable imagery of contemporary gay culture. He is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

CDLP × TOM OF FINLAND

CDLP presents a design collaboration with Tom of Finland Foundation–the non-profit archive dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tom of Finland’s body of work and the erotic arts since 1984. Studying the work of the artist, CDLP noted that the underwear–a fashion feature seen throughout his hedonistic liberation, and in effect designed by Tom of Finland–had never been directly conceived into reality. These very depictions provided the design inspiration behind a limited edition Jock Strap and Tanga Brief. Each style is accompanied by a portrait of the artist as a limited edition print, and presented in a custom box featuring some of Tom’s most iconic work.

Tom’s influence on fashion and imprint on popular culture is undeniable. Designers that include Jean-Paul Gaultier, Tom Ford and Helmut Lang have been influenced by his work. This collaboration marks how fantasy can come to life. — Durk Dehner, co-founder of TOM OF FINLAND foundation.

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