MCM drops third Puma collaboration

German luxury brand MCM has unveiled the third and final part of its collaboration with sportswear brand Puma, combining the best of fashion and athleticism.

Basketball star Marcus Smart wears MCM x Puma

Inspired by the “vibrant energies of basketball and the rhythms of hip-hop culture”, the collection is described as “a celebration of freedom, self-expression and the unapologetic pursuit of style” and “a dazzling fusion of our signature design codes and Puma's cutting-edge sports technology”.

The campaign features American basketball star Marcus Smart, who shows off the “pièce de résistance” of this team-up – the MCM x Puma TRC Blaze Court Shoe.

The complete lifestyle collection also includes comfortable knit shorts and tank tops, windbreakers, sweatpants and jerseys.

It is available from 28 September 2023 at MCM.com and in-store in select locations.

Porsche Design marks 60 years of iconic 911

To mark the 60th anniversary of the Porsche 911, German lifestyle brand Porsche Design has announced a new capsule collection of eyewear, accompanied by new releases for travelling shoppers.

As an extension of the Flowing Titanium series that’s inspired by the silhouette of the Porsche 911, Porsche Design is presenting a special edition of just 911 pieces, available in the same colours as the anniversary edition of the car: black and Shore blue, an exclusive grey-blue hue. The collection includes the P'8369 optical frame and the P'8966 sunglasses style, with lenses featuring innovative Vision Drive technology.

Porsche Design's P'8966 model celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Porsche 911

The styles are said to optimise the function, reducing the form to its essentials thanks to high-quality details such as the three-dimensional temples and the use of 100% Beta Titanium. This creates soft lines and an eye-catching contrast between light and shadow that translates into a strong and distinctive look.

Also new for Autumn 2023 is the Motion collection, characterised by modern and linear shapes, emphasised by a play of chromatic contrasts. The hinge with an air space is inspired by the wheel rim of the Porsche 911 Turbo and embodies its lightness in terms of the materials. The combination of RXP high-performance plastic with stainless steel allows for maximum comfort, the company said.

The Motion series comprises two aviator-shaped optical frames and two sunglasses models – P'8963 and P'8968. All frames are available in four colour combinations.

With a sporty and dynamic design, the Blade series is a combination of high-quality stainless steel and RXP high-performance plastic, guaranteeing comfort owing to the light and stable materials. There are two new prescription frames and the P'8943 sunglasses model with a flat, oversized front piece featuring an angular design. 

Meanwhile, the Air Spring collection has a clean and linear design with distinctive functional details, from its minimalist design language to the innovative Flex-Zone, which is described as a structure with an apparently simple aesthetic that allows for the superior flexibility of the temple and guarantees lightness, comfort and fit. The new P'8967 Squared Aviator sunglasses are available in four colour variants each and feature Vision Drive technology lenses.

MCM and Marcolin ink new eyewear deal

Italian eyewear group Marcolin has announced a new partnership with German luxury fashion house MCM.

The exclusive license agreement includes the design, production and worldwide distribution of MCM Eyewear until 31 December 2028.

Marcolin headquarters

Founded in Munich in 1976, MCM “champions a new age of elegance, blending wanderlust and inclusivity while addressing the nuanced requirements of today’s modern traveller and digital nomad”.

Marcolin will develop MCM’s eyewear collections following the founding values of the brand, which has always combined craftsmanship, design and sustainability in its creations.

The first MCM sunglasses and optical collection produced by Marcolin will be available from January 2024 in selected stores.

MCM links with Yinka Ilori for Frieze Seoul art fair

British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori, known for his playful designs, has joined MCM’s Upcycle Project for a 20-piece exhibit at the brand’s flagship store in Seoul.

The exhibit was unveiled during Frieze Seoul art fair 2023, which took place between 6 and 9 September.

“Through emotion and perspective, the pieces in this collection converge at the junction of fashion and contemporary art,” MCM said.

MCM x Yinka Ilori's exhibit at MCM HAUS in Seoul

The exhibit is in two parts. Part 1, dubbed 'There is Good in All of Us', features an assortment of 10 renewed chairs that incorporate the brand’s unused signature Visetos materials. By repurposing and revitalising materials, the collaboration aims to highlight the importance of environmental consciousness and responsible consumption.

“Complementing each artwork is a kaleidoscope, enticing visitors into a dance of colours and patterns,” enthused Ilori.

Reflecting Ilori's signature approach, the collaboration thrives on diverse colour motifs, architecture and spaces to encourage visitors to see new perspectives.

“It's an invitation to delve deeper, to discover the beauty beneath the overt, signifying an unending cycle of growth, balance and rejuvenation,” the artist added.

The latter half of the exhibit, 'Looking at Me', features a mix of Ilori's older works alongside new ones from his most recent collection.

The first six chairs reflect Ilori’s memories of growing up in London as a British Nigerian and explores heritage, culture and family. The next four, from a new collection titled ‘All of Us’, are described as bolder, more unapologetic and expressive to capture Ilori’s coming of age as an artist and designer.

The pieces are on display at the MCM HAUS flagship store in Seoul from 4 September until 22 October.

Laphroaig introduces more sustainable packaging

Scotch whisky brand Laphroaig has unveiled a more sustainable packaging design in order to reduce the carbon footprint of each bottle.

The new packaging will reduce the brand’s carbon emissions by 30% and supports Beam Suntory’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy and long-term commitments to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2040, according to the brand owner.

Laphroaig Scotch whisky's new packaging

The design retains the green bottle with its distinctive black and white label but replaces the plastic bar top with a beech wood alternative, as well as switching out the secondary packaging tube for a more recycling-friendly carton. This will result in a reduction of 1,184.74 tons of greenhouse gases per year – equivalent to growing 30,711 saplings over 10 years.

The new carton will also introduce additional quality cues on pack, including embossed Laphroaig lettering on the side as a nod to the brand’s Islay distillery. Further inspiration came from the brand archive, resulting in a refreshed wordmark and the hand-crafted distillery address on the front.

Chris Richardson, Vice President Global Scotch & Irish Brands at Beam Suntory, said: “The Laphroaig distillery has been making whisky for over 200 years, and it is fundamentally important we take steps to reduce our environmental impact and protect the natural resources we rely upon. This new packaging is a good step forward in our global sustainability ambitions, while still maintaining Laphroaig’s true character and exceptionally high quality."

In addition to its refreshed packaging, Laphroaig will also be renaming ‘Select’ to ‘Oak Select’ to reflect the role of casks in the flavour profile of the whisky. Oak Select will continue to comprise spirit taken from five different types of oak cask that are then blended to create the final expression. There will be no change to the whisky itself.