Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Bentley show the multifaceted benefits of collabs

From Jacquemus and Nike revealing a new orange sneaker in time for pumpkin season to luxury outerwear label Barbour releasing collections with Palace and Ganni, this week's global brand collaborations are reaching a new level of luxury. Louis Vuitton is stealing the spotlight at some of the world's most prestigious sports events, this time designing two trophy cases for the Ballon d'Or football awards ceremony, which will be held on October 30. Meanwhile, Bentley announced a collaborative product with sustainable design studio Forestalgia. Made from upcycled Bentley car leathers, the limited edition gloves strengthen the automotive brand's sustainability narrative and are being gifted as a collector’s item to its customers. Finally, this week we analyze the Friend of Fendi collection, with Stefano Pilati being chosen as the debut designer. Read on for our verdict on these major Collabs & Drops, and subscribe here to receive news weekly to your inbox every Tuesday. Louis Vuitton x Ballon d’Or Details Trophy Trunk for the 67th Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 30 Social context On Instagram, Ballon d'Or's official account has 3.9 million followers and the hashtag #ballondor has 621,811 posts at the time of writing. Verdict Louis Vuitton has designed bespoke trunks for some of the world's most prestigious sports awards, including the Rugby World Cup, the League of Legends’ Summoner’s Cup, the Fifa World Cup, and the Davis Cup for tennis. Through this partnership, the Ballon d'Or can borrow Louis Vuitton's cultural prestige, and in return, the fashion house receives greater exposure by being associated with some of the most influential athletes in the world. Ballon d’Or nominees include world-famous footballers Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Lionel Messi, Millie Bright, and Rachel Daly. All eyes will be on the awards show, stretching Louis Vuitton’s reach beyond its usual consumer base to maintain its mainstream relevance. Bentley x Forestalgia Details Two colorways of driving glove to mark 20 years of the Continental GT car, October 24 Social context Bentley has not posted to its 10.9 million followers on Instagram. Verdict Created in partnership with a London design studio that prides itself on recycling and repurposing, the gloves are crafted out of Bentley's surplus leathers, accentuating the car brand's green ethos while championing its British heritage. The "Black Crystal" and "Racing Green" colorways are an ode to the interior of the Bentley GT. Interestingly, there is hardly anything online about Forestalgia, so it seems that this collaboration is more about creating something low-key rather than disrupting the luxury car world and attracting major attention. The glove will be on display in the home of Bentley Motors and gifted as a collector's item to Bentley customers, improving loyalty among fans. Fendi x Stefano Pilati Details “Friend of Fendi” collection, October 26 Social context The four posts about this collaboration on Fendi’s Instagram have over 21,900 likes altogether, and the posts on Stefano Pilati’s Instagram have over 4,800 likes. Verdict Friends of Fendi is a project by Fendi artistic director Kim Jones, which invites external talents to co-design collections. The first is a surprise collab with Milanese designer Stefano Pilati. Pilati served as Yves Saint Laurent's design director for four years under Tom Ford before assuming the role of creative director from 2004 to 2012. During this time, Pilati was behind YSL's tulip skirt of 2004 and Manifesto publication. A conversation between Milan and Rome, the collaborative collection spans menswear and womenswear, aiming to show something different beyond Fendi's usual offering.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Bentley show the multifaceted benefits of collabs

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Published October 28, 2023

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Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Bentley show the multifaceted benefits of collabs