Louis Vuitton Keeps An Eye On The Ball With New NBA Collaborative Capsule
Talk about being on the ball! Just days after the Los Angeles Lakers steamrolled the Miami Heat to victory in the 2020 NBA Championship, Louis Vuitton has unveiled a new, limited-edition menswear capsule in celebration of the occasion, the first outing in a multi-year partnership with the National Basketball Association that was announced back in January.
Designed by Virgil Abloh, the comprehensive selection of ready-to-wear and accessories is inspired by the values of relatability and inclusivity, which are key to Abloh’s vision at Louis Vuitton. Synthesising the luxury house’s time-honoured codes with the iconography of the basketball universe, the artistic director imagines a wardrobe worthy of a top-scoring player, centred on the iconic silhouette of Lakers legend Jerry West that characterises the NBA insignia.
Offering styles that befit every stage of the competitor’s journey, from travel to game arrival to press conference, the capsule spans grey cashmere tracksuits, printed t-shirts, preppy intarsia sweaters, hooded leather bombers and sharp suiting separates, varyingly splashed with the Maison’s Monogram, an abstract basketball motif and an eye-catching houndstooth pattern formed from the infinite repetition of the league’s logo.
The LV x NBA collection also reinterprets a number of Louis Vuitton’s signature accoutrements with an athletic bent — the classic Keepall sports netted side details reminiscent of a basketball hoop, while the Christopher backpack, Nil messenger and assorted small leather goods flaunt vivid accents in the tri-colours of the Association. On the footwear front, natty loafers, thick-soled derbies and lace-up boots in both monochrome and monogrammed leather appear alongside casual slip-on sneakers in houndstooth canvas, with each piece stamped with the co-signed emblem on the insole.
Rounding out the lineup is an array of baller (in all senses) jewellery, including chunky gold chain-link bracelets, gold pendants in the shape of the Larry O’Brien trophy, diamond-embellished dog tag necklaces and signet rings set with purple gemstones (a Lakers team colour), in addition to Monogram belts, graphic knit scarves and embossed aviator sunglasses.
The collaborative capsule is slated to drop on 20 November, so mark your calendars and set your alarms, as it’s guaranteed to be a slam dunk.
