10-year-old Mari Copeny, who is known for her outspoken tweets discussing Flint’s water crisis, stars in the latest campaign for clothing label Helmut Lang. The black-and-white photoset, officially titled the Helmut Lang Seen By Series, features a diverse range of characters, from Flint's hometown hero to Shayne Oliver, the brand’s new creative director.
The campaign is the fashion world’s first taste of a Helmut Lang revival. Once a favorite of the 90s punk crowd, its namesake creative director parted ways in 2005, leaving the company with little direction. Now, Isabella Burley, the brand's editor-in-residence and photographer Ethan James Green reaffirm the brand’s reputation as an innovator through a set of photos showcasing avant-garde pieces worn by odds-defying muses. Each image is framed by the brand’s original block-letter logo.
Copeny can be seen in two of the campaign’s 15 photographs. In one, she stands alone in her sash and crown, hands on hips, frowning defiantly. In the other, she poses between trans icon Aurel Haize and supermodel Alek Wek, sporting an oversized suit jacket beneath her pageant garb.
You can check out the full campaign at helmutlang.com, or at @helmutlang on Instagram.
