LEXUS AND SALEHE BEMBURY LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE APPAREL COLLECTION
- Collection featuring hoodie, T-shirt and hat with Champion sportswear as canvas
- Available for purchase on HBX.com as from August 16, 2021
Driven by a shared dedication to pushing the boundaries of design and creativity, Lexus and American footwear designer Salehe Bembury today announced a collection showcasing apparel from Champion, a leader in authentic sports apparel since 1919.
In celebration of Lexus’ commitment to electrification and mobility innovation, the collaborative brings together two distinct, yet synergistic, design approaches. Bembury approached Lexus’ push towards the electrification of its vehicle line-up through his own signature nature-inspired design ethos.
“This collaboration was a new type of challenge for me. It is both challenging and rewarding to explore design outside of footwear and allowed me to think outside of my usual realm of design,” said Bembury.
The Lexus x Salehe Bembury collection includes three unisex items: a hoodie, T-shirt and hat. The designs themselves were created by merging recognizable elements of Bembury’s body of work, such as his logo and signature fingerprint, with Lexus graphic elements. As an emblem of a fresh and forward-thinking approach, the collaboration reimagines Lexus’ iconic logo, distilling Lexus’ human-centric design into an apparel collection.
Archway shapes on the front and back were used to tie the design elements together, symbolizing a pathway toward the future. Graphic accents on the back frame the word “electrified” and were based on the all-new Lexus NX’s taillights.
Lexus and Bembury identified Champion Reverse Weave as the best apparel silhouette for storytelling and took a deliberate approach with details that would amplify the collection’s narrative. For example, incorporation of reflective ink represents the idea of electrification and is used on both the T-shirt and hoodie. The fabric is dyed dark grey through a custom oil wash process, giving it a unique look. Colours are drawn from the Lexus NX exterior options and the incorporation of a hand-finished, wash tag appliqué in both English and Japanese at the front hem ties together all of the brands working on the project. The focal point of the unstructured baseball cap is Salehe’s fingerprint logo wrapping the brim. In addition, embroidered Salehe, Lexus and Champion logos complete the piece, which is adjustable using a strap and metal buckle.
“This collaboration merges different design disciplines to create a modern collection rooted in heritage for fans across the three brands,” said Jon Ram, Global President Champion Athleticwear. “As a brand that continuously pushes the boundaries of creativity, Champion is excited to work with Bembury and Lexus to elevate the conversation around design, fashion and technology.”
The unisex apparel pieces are available in sizes S-XL and range in price from $50-$150. The collection is available for purchase exclusively at HBX.com as from August 16th.
The project is a continued partnership between Lexus and Bembury, who designed a rendering of the LZ-F Electrified concept interior as part of the Virtual Interiors Program in April 2021.