Synched perfectly with the back-to-school mood of September, quintessentially British luxury brand Church's has broken through collaboration noise this week with some brogues and loafers in partnership with Miu Miu. Leveraging the loafer hype and preppy chic aesthetic that is dominating fashion right now, it's a pairing that immediately makes sense.
Also ringing in the Fall 2023 season is JW Anderson, which has finally released its vibrant Michael Clark collection to stores. Jonathan Anderson, the Irish creative director of the eponymous label, shows his appreciation for Clark who is not only a creative he has long admired, but a provocative artist, choreographer and dancer that is shaping British cultural history.
The third collaboration spotlight of the week is another unique product launch, joining the trend of non-official collaborations that eventually become official, like the coveted Louis Vuitton x Supreme. 1017 Alyx 9SM and Audemars Piguet have unveiled four timepieces, following the popularity of the MAD Paris cutomization project of 2021.
Read on for our verdict on these global brand collaborations, and subscribe here to the Collabs & Drops newsletter to receive this straight to your inbox every Tuesday.
Miu Miu x Church's#
Date
Fall 2023
Product
Two silhouettes
Social context
On Miu Miu's Instagram (10.6 million followers), the posts about this collaboration have received approximately 54,900 likes so far. The post on Church's account (355,000 followers) has received 2,900 likes.
Verdict
Combining heritage identities, Miu Miu and Church's is a luxury tie-up that makes sense in terms of their overlapping consumer bases, history, and style. Through the partnership, Church's is able to reach younger luxury fashion clientele, expanding its target audience. Miu Miu, in turn, benefits from the prestige of Church's, founded in 1873. Judging by the engagement across both social media channels, Miu Miu's consumer base is more excited than Church's about the drop.
Michael Clark x JW Anderson#
Date
Fall 2023
Product
Clothing collection
Social context
On JW Anderson's Instagram (1.5 million), there are 13,120 likes in total on relevant posts.
Verdict
Founder of eponymous fashion label JW Anderson, Jonathan Anderson shows support for a creative that he himself is a fan of, embracing the arts through this multifaceted collaboration.
The fact that Anderson first encountered Clark while studying at university shows his deep understanding and natural affinity to the British dancer and choreographer. The collection is a celebration of Clark's influence on the fashion industry — practically fan merchandise with a high fashion spin.
1017 Alyx 9SM x Audemars Piguet#
Date
August 24
Product
Clothing collection
Social context
One of the most liked posts about this collaboration on Instagram is by @hidden.ny, with 4,995 likes. The combined reach of both brands on Instagram is 3.8 million followers.
Verdict
The collab might seem unexpected, but sustainability and avant-garde aesthetic are the points of similarity between 1017 Alyx 9SM and Audemars Piguet. Sold at auction in Tokyo for $1 million on August 24, the unique Royal Oak Self-winding Chronograph piece adds an element of collectibility the launch.
There is some critique online that historical houses like Audemars Piguet can look cheapened by luxury streetwear brands. But for the most part, the excitement is palpable around the world.