Karl Lagerfeld and Donald Duck: A Quirky Reunion in a New Capsule Collection

Karl Lagerfeld and Donald Duck are once again joining forces for a playful new capsule collection, centered around a unique sketch of the famously temperamental cartoon bird created by Lagerfeld himself in the early 2000s.

Imagine an app that could "Karl-ify" yourself – a fun idea, perhaps. But look what it's done for Donald Duck, who is now embarking on his second collaboration with the Karl Lagerfeld fashion house. In this new iteration, Donald is impeccably dressed in dark sunglasses, a high-collared shirt, and a black blazer, with his head feathers styled into a jaunty ponytail – a true sartorial homage to the late designer.

This latest Disney x Karl Lagerfeld capsule collection draws inspiration from a hand-colored illustration of Donald Duck that the iconic designer created in 2004 to commemorate the beloved character's 70th anniversary. In this artwork, Lagerfeld famously dressed Donald just like himself. (It's a curious coincidence that the German designer was born just a few months before Donald Duck's cinematic debut, perhaps cementing his lifelong affection for the spirited bird.) The original 2004 limited-edition series of 3,000 shirts bearing this artwork quickly sold out at Disneyland Paris. More recently, in 2023, The Walt Disney Company marked its centenary by partnering with Karl Lagerfeld, a collaboration the fashion house hailed as a "great success," though specific figures remain undisclosed.

The pivotal sketch, presented in various interpretations including both color and black-and-white, will adorn a range of apparel in the 2025 capsule collection. Fans can expect to find it on jeans jackets, sweaters, a bomber jacket, and a casual blazer. The collection is set to launch this Thursday at Karl Lagerfeld stores, select Disney stores, various wholesale accounts, and online at Karl.com and Disneystore.co.uk.

Beyond clothing, the collection offers a vibrant array of accessories. These include backpacks, tote bags, handbags, sneakers, sunglasses, scarves, and umbrellas, ensuring a comprehensive way for fans to embrace this unique collaboration.

Pier Paolo Righi, CEO of Karl Lagerfeld, regards the sketch as a genuine collector's item from the brand's archive and a prime example of the late German designer's renowned sense of humor. "Karl has created this iconic artwork himself to blend the appearance of two icons and merge it into one," Righi told WWD. He added, "The request of Karl fans all over the world to bring back this art piece to our collection was too big not to!" This eagerly anticipated return of the iconic artwork underscores the enduring appeal of both Karl Lagerfeld's legacy and Donald Duck's timeless charm.