Louis Vuitton’s menswear has proved itself to be as great as in making headlines as it is in creating collectable masterpieces over the years, thanks to intellectual heft of its creative directors and heavyweight collaborations, from Kim Jones era’s fragment design and Supreme to Virgil Abloh’s collaboration with Bape’s Nigo. And indeed, the recent collaboration with National Basketball Association (NBA) is another remarkable example.
Announced earlier this year, the partnership will last for three years, and it marks the first long-term collaboration with the French fashion house conceived by Virgil Abloh, allowing the brand to be an official Trophy Travel case provider for NBA. Sharing sheer exquisiteness with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, the case has made its debut at NBA Finals 2020 and was handcrafted by the maison’s artisans at its Asnìeres workshop.
While the fans are swooning over the cool trophy case, the real deal for them is the LV x NBA capsule collection. Underpinned by the idealogy of relatability, the capsule collection emphasises the sports of basketball as a force of unity and is therefore built upon the wardrobe of an NBA player. Assimilating the iconography of NBA into the world of Louis Vuitton, the capsule toys with three major codes: travels and transits, game arrivals and press conference dress code.
Adding a contemporary edge, the totems of Louis Vuitton and NBA the likes of basketball lines, NBA logo and LV insignia are visible on a host of classic items including grey cashmere tracksuit, blue hooded leather jacket, suits and dress shirt. Employed in an infinite houndstooth pattern used in tailoring, shirting and a tie, the NBA logo also appears on a varsity jacket decorated with the LV initials on the back.
Accessories wise, the capsule sees the advent of a multi-pocket backpack in the classic Monogram accentuated with contrasting white straps while the iconic Keepall splashed in white paint features periwinkle blue handle and sling, as well as red lines with a netted side. Lace-up leather boots, on the other hand, receives Virgil Abloh’s Off-White treatment with an NBA hangtag and gold LV insignia on the heel. Topping off the collection is a selection of jewellery that highlights the collaboration.
Last but not least, the partnership also comes with the unveiling of LV x NBA Trunk, a double-door wardrobe trunk that is designed in the similar vein with the classic Monogram bedecked in the signature NBA colour triad.
The LV x NBA capsule collection is now available in stores and online.
