Whitney Houston’s Palace Skateboard Collection Will Make You So Emotional

Since Whitney Houston’s tragic death in 2012, the music legend’s cultural impact has only grown. Houston’s game-changing career yielded chart-topping albums, hit movies, and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most awarded female artist of all time. An inspiration to performers like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Hudson, Houston set the standard for vocalists from the 1980s onward. This year that legacy was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside acts like the Notorious B.I.G., Nine Inch Nails, and T. Rex. At the virtual ceremony on Saturday, Houston’s impact was outlined by lifelong fan Alicia Keys, but such a milestone moment deserved to be immortalized in real life. Enter Palace Skateboards, the London-based brand known for its skater clothing and unique collaborations. After teaming with everyone from Ralph Lauren to Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Palace has paired up with Houston’s estate for a unique capsule launching this Friday.

If the idea of power ballads and skateboarding doesn’t make total sense, that’s perfectly fine with Palace’s creative team. Their connection with Houston’s Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to issues impacting children and at-risk youth, is a means of continuing their philanthropic drops. Earlier this year, they created a capsule in honor of Britain’s National Health Service for COVID-19 relief, and in 2019 they joined forces with Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to combat racial and class inequality. Houston’s status as pop music’s GOAT didn’t hurt either. “[She] is one of the all-time greats,” the brand shared via a statement. “We are so stoked and so honored to continue our charitable commitments this year with a line that celebrates such an incredible pop star and human being.”

Comprising an Ebbets varsity jacket with Houston’s name splashed across the front; T-shirts featuring the Richard Avedon–shot cover of her 1987 album, Whitney; and logo’d crewnecks, the collection aligns with Houston’s casual off-duty style. Though she favored glamorous Dolce & Gabbana dresses and crystal-covered Marc Bouwer catsuits onstage, when she was with family and friends during rare moments away from the spotlight, her wardrobe consisted of jeans, bomber jackets, and T-shirts. According to her sister-in-law and longtime manager, Pat Houston—who accepted the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors alongside the star’s mother, Cissy—the Palace collection’s spirit is pure Whitney. “No doubt she would have loved to have worn it herself!” she shared via email. “Nippy always loved wearing a cool sweatshirt when she was away from the spotlight. This collection reflects her fun and easygoing personality—she would have been proud to wear it, knowing it was for a good cause.”