MyBestys by Cristina Castañer: when Yayoi Kusama's art becomes an everyday object

Fashion can engage with art in many ways, but rarely does this encounter become such a tangible extension of the museum experience as in the collaboration between the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, near Basel, and MyBestys by Cristina Castañer. As part of the major retrospective dedicated to Yayoi Kusama, the Swiss institution commissioned the Spanish designer to create an exclusive collection of handbags conceived as a bridge between contemporary design, craftsmanship, and sustainability.

The proposal positions Cristina Castañer as the first Spanish designer invited to develop a collection for the Fondation Beyeler, a milestone that reinforces the project's cultural dimension. This is not simply a commercial collaboration, but rather an intervention conceived as a genuine 'dialogue between art and object': a way to extend Kusama's universe beyond the exhibition space and bring it into the realm of everyday life.

A textile tribute to Kusama's universe

The MyBestys collection was born out of the retrospective that the Fondation Beyeler is dedicating to Yayoi Kusama, a key figure in contemporary Japanese and international art. Her work, marked by repetition, dots, an obsession with infinity, and the creation of immersive spaces, has generated one of the most recognizable visual languages of the 20th and 21st centuries. The exhibition at Beyeler spans more than seven decades of her production and brings together iconic works alongside one of her celebrated Infinity Mirror Rooms, underscoring the immersive experience that defines her practice.

In this context, MyBestys' proposal doesn't seek to illustrate Kusama's work literally, but rather to reinterpret her imagery through everyday objects. The collection translates into the handbag—an intimate, functional, and deeply personal piece—some of the conceptual axes that run through the artist's work: repetition, visual vibrancy, the power of color, and the capacity of design to evoke an emotional experience.

Nine exclusive pieces, four of them exhibited at the Fondation Beyeler

The exclusive collection comprises nine models, four of which are on display at the Fondation Beyeler itself, thus reinforcing the exhibition aspect of the project. Each bag has been conceived as a unique piece, somewhere between a designer accessory and an art object, with special attention paid to the materiality, construction, and history of the fabrics.

Beyond their presence in the museum, these creations encapsulate the identity of MyBestys, a brand founded by Cristina Castañer based on a vision that unites quality, functionality, and creativity. They embody the defining characteristics of the brand: handcrafted production in Spain, the use of high-quality reclaimed materials, a bright and colorful aesthetic, and a style that blends freshness with timeless elegance.

Sustainability and circular fashion: a second life for materials with a history

One of the most important aspects of the collection is its sustainable dimension. True to the MyBestys philosophy, Cristina Castañer has opted for the reuse of materials and a production method that understands design as an exercise in continuity, not discarding. For this collaboration, the designer has given a second life to unique canvases linked to the project, combining them with vintage fabrics from the Castañer universe.

From this intersection emerge handbags that stand out not only for their unique aesthetic but also for their ability to activate a circular fashion narrative. Each piece is constructed from materials that carry a previous history and that, instead of being discarded, are reintroduced into the present through a new form, a new function, and a new context.

One of the most significant details lies inside the bags. According to the brand, each piece incorporates linings made from materials of vintage Castañer espadrilles, a gesture that eloquently connects tradition, textile memory, and circularity. What in another context would have been waste or an inactive archive becomes here an essential part of the design: a layer invisible at first glance, but laden with meaning.

The MyBestys brand: craftsmanship, intimacy and design with a story

This collection is particularly appealing because it clearly embodies the MyBestys philosophy. The brand has built its identity on the idea of creating pieces with soul, objects that not only serve a practical function but also establish an emotional connection with the wearer. It's no coincidence that the brand's name evokes this idea of closeness: 'MyBestys' means 'my closest friends,' life companions with whom to share moments and experiences.

This emotional dimension coexists with a strong commitment to responsible production. In the brand's narrative, the reuse of textiles, the utilization of reclaimed materials, and local craftsmanship are all part of the same vision: that of a fashion that champions time, skill, and individuality in the face of the logic of accelerated production.

In this sense, the collaboration with the Fondation Beyeler amplifies this identity and places it within a cultural context of high symbolic value. Cristina Castañer's handbags do not appear here as mere byproducts of an exhibition, but as pieces that absorb the museum's conceptual energy and translate it into their own language: that of contemporary craftsmanship, sustainability, and designer pieces.

From the museum to the everyday gesture

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this collection lies in its ability to move between worlds. On the one hand, it situates itself within the realm of contemporary art through its dialogue with Kusama and an institution like the Fondation Beyeler. On the other, it remains grounded in everyday life: these are bags designed to be used, touched, inhabited. This dual nature—functional object and object with artistic resonance—is what gives the project its depth.