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Kings of cool, Acne Studios, and classic British brand, Mulberry, have teamed up for a lovely albeit unexpected collaboration of leather goods. Celebrating the joys of friendship and freedom, the Friendship Collaboration sees an unusual alignment of slick Swedish design and premium British craftsmanship, culminating in a limited-edition range of bags and small leather goods.
Marrying Scandi cool with English charm, key styles in both brands have been given a fresh twist, such as the Musubi bag, by Acne Studios, and the Bayswater, by Mulberry. The hybridised version plays on Acne’s signature origami knot, which is laced through the Bayswater in either regular or micro sizes in oak, black and pink. Throughout, detachable fabric straps come printed with the brands’ inspired logos.
The collaboration reimagines classic styles and signatures from the two Houses to create something entirely new, with the respective design teams indulging a little creative license. Mulberry’s celebrated Scotchgrain bags, for example, have been refashioned by the Acne Studios design team, with multiple leather buckle strap fastenings and oversized metal hardware. The bag comes in both messenger and mini cross-body satchel styles, and is available in pink and black crocodile print leather.
Accompanying the bags is a range of small leather goods in either Scotchgrain or pink grainy leather. There is a laptop case, a medium-sized pouch, a coin purse, a small zip-around wallet and a Scotchgrain lanyard.
But perhaps most interesting is the interplay between Acne and Mulberry’s signature logo, with the collaboration logo a canny juxtapostion of the iconic Acne Studios letting scattered like leaves in the Mulberry tree emblem.
For Mulberry CEO, Thierry Andretta, the collection stands as the ultimate representation of both brands. “The Acne Studios and Mulberry collaboration is a perfect manifestation of the spirit of both our brands. It showcases Acne Studios’ wonderful Swedish design ethos and celebrates both the British heritage and modernity of Mulberry,” he notes.
Jonny Johansson, Creative Director of Acne Studios, says the collaboration is basically a dialogue between two friends with the one goal: to make an astounding product. “This is a collection about friendship and our freedom as brands to do what we want to do,” he explains. “It is like a conversation between Acne Studios and Mulberry, one that is founded in mutual respect and a desire to make great product.”
“There is pure Swedishness and Englishness to the collection that I think twists the look in an interesting way,” he continues. “I like how they are practical and you also want to carry them. It feels good to make bags that are desirable and that also have purpose.”
The full collection will be available at selected Acne Studios and Mulberry stores internationally from November 5th. Visit mulberry.com for more information.
