Louis Vuitton's NBA Collection Will Make You Feel Like a Champ
ILLUSTRATOR Warren Espejo
Like LeBron James, MVP of the 2020 NBA Finals and all-around GOAT, you just want respect. You want to be hailed as the champ when you are the goddamn champ. And while you can’t decorate your fingers with four championship rings like King James, you can wear clothes that tap into the spirit of success.
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Continuing the high of a supercharged basketball season, Louis Vuitton invokes the power of the American sport with the LV x NBA capsule collection, a limited clothing and accessories line that combines the finery of the Paris fashion house with the cultural codes of the National Basketball Association.
Under the guidance of artistic director Virgil Abloh, the set has been cleverly designed so that you can fully live out your fantasy of being LeBron or any other NBA player. The collection is divided into three threads that parallel the three style opportunities in a sports superstar’s life: the transit (when a player moves from, say, one arena to the next), the game arrival, and, of course, the all-important press conference.
When translated to real life, it goes like this: When traveling to, maybe, the hardware store, put on a gray cashmere tracksuit, a nod to the warmup threads that athletes employ. When making your big entrance, wear a swaggy blue hooded leather jacket much like NBA players traversing the tunnel of an arena. And when fielding the tough (and sometimes rude!) questions of a business rival, do it in a suit and a dress shirt. (And don't walk out.)
The set, which is the first in a three-year partnership with the NBA, also speaks of LV's polish as seen in well-thought-out details, from the NBA logo that has been translated into an infinite houndstooth pattern (in suits, shirts, and ties) to the use of red, blue, and white in bags as another nod to the famous insignia.
A white Keepall that features a netted side, like a basketball hoop, is a clear standout, while the flash of (fashion) jewelry, in particular, Louis Vuitton pendants with the NBA logo, complete the high-flying lifestyle of an NBA star.
Louis Vuitton also cements its union with the sports organization by creating a stunning travel case for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The hand-crafted case, covered in the house's Monogram and fitted with brass fixtures, accompanied the trophy during the presentation of this year’s champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Okay, you can’t really have the trophy case (LV has a personalization service that can create an approximate if you wish, though), so just shoot for the sports star clothes. Leaving you with just enough time to gather coins, the Louis Vuitton x NBA collection arrives in Manila on November 20.
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