LOUIS VUITTON and the National Basketball Association (NBA) recently partnered on a capsule collection which is now available at the LV Greenbelt 4 branch in Makati City.
Done under the artistic direction of American Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh, the LVxNBA collection is “motivated by the exchange between French craftsmanship and American sports.”
For the line, Mr. Abloh created a limited clothing and accessories collection which he is described as uniting the emblems of the two renowned institutions.
The collection adapts the designer’s codes with the visual images of the basketball world, and honors the values of relatability and inclusion which Mr. Abloh has been underscoring since joining Louis Vuitton as artistic director for men’s wear in 2018.
Taking its cue from a player’s wardrobe, the collection captures three main dress codes: travels and transits are represented in a grey cashmere tracksuit adorned with graphics informed by the lines of a basketball; game arrivals manifest in a blue hooded leather jacket, Monogram jeans and T-shirts; and the press conference dress code is expressed in suits and a dress shirt.
Among the prominent features here is how the NBA logo is employed in an infinite houndstooth pattern used in tailoring, shirting and a tie.
Multi-functional bags draw on the red, blue, and white colors of the NBA logo. The collection sees the debut of a multi-pocket backpack in LV’s classic Monogram pattern with white contrast straps as a nod to the graphics associated with the game.
Shoes meld the insignia of Louis Vuitton and NBA in classic loafers, chunky-soled leather derbies, slip-ons, and in lace-up leather boots fused with components from existing sneakers; each recognizable by the new LVxNBA emblem embossed on the foot-bed.
Fashion jewelry have NBA logos as pendants, highlighting the meshing of sports and craftsmanship.
“Fashion muses aren’t predictable. Ideas of luxury can be found in the sports world and its champions as much as in traditional forms of artistry. This collection celebrates the cultural contribution of basketball and its diverse characters, and the idea of relatability as a force of unity today,” said Mr. Abloh of the collection in a statement. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo