Always eager to push denim to new heights, G-STAR has teamed up with fine taxidermy artists Darwin, Sinke & van Tongeren. Inspired by principles of anatomical design, the brand has unveiled a 3.5-meter-tall gorilla sculpture in the brand-new Art Zoo Museum in Amsterdam. For over 40 years, G-STAR has been known for collaborating with leading artists across many fields, from Maarten Baas and Marc Newson to Anton Corbijn and Pharrell Williams. Staying true to that tradition, the brand now partners with renowned taxidermists Darwin, Sinke & van Tongeren. Famous for their avant-garde and extravagant creations, the duo designed a larger-than-life gorilla statue. Each muscle was carefully 3D-printed, then entirely covered in denim stitched by hand.
The Denim Gorilla took over two years to complete, requiring 700 hours of craftsmanship, 3,000 meters of stitching, and 56 square meters of denim. The monumental figure highlights every muscle and hand-sewn seam, offering a unique perspective on the anatomy of a gorilla. Unlike the dominant, traditional postures usually seen in natural history museums, this primate is presented more like a model on a runway, challenging conventions, emphasizing its sophisticated behaviors, and showcasing its ability to use tools. Its muscular silhouette is also a playful nod to G-STAR’s anatomical design principles. As part of a spectacular artistic reinterpretation of the Wunderkammer (cabinet of curiosities), The Denim Gorilla will be on display at the brand-new Art Zoo Museum in Amsterdam.
The creative minds behind this project, Ferry van Tongeren and Jaap Sinke, are the founders of Darwin, Sinke & van Tongeren. Their name pays tribute to Charles Darwin, the great naturalist and geologist. After years in advertising, van Tongeren discovered a new passion for taxidermy. He first trained at the Natural History Museum in Leiden, home to one of the largest and oldest taxidermy collections in the world. Later, he teamed up with Sinke, and together they founded Darwin, Sinke & van Tongeren in 2013. Their debut collection, The Life of Eden (2014), showcased the beauty of nature in a baroque and extravagant style. Their unique approach quickly gained international acclaim. Their work has been acquired by renowned collectors, museums, investors, and even Damien Hirst, who bought their entire first collection.
Housed in a 17th-century canal house classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Art Zoo Museum opened in June in Amsterdam, where The Denim Gorilla is on view. Alongside this arty collaboration, G-STAR named Botter as their new creative director and will display this highly anticipated collection next January during Paris Fashion Week.
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