Pokémon is so beloved worldwide that even high fashion brands are jumping on the opportunity to partner up with the anime and gaming franchise. Following recent collaborations with the likes of Billionaire Boys Club and Clarks, we now have a look at a Pokémon collection from French luxury fashion house Balmain.
The two brands present a Trainer Fashion Set, a limited-edition collection comprised of apparel, footwear, and accessories starring the most famous Pokémon, Pikachu. The lovable electric mouse appears on tees, tank tops, button-up shirts, pants, bags, and more, often alongside Balmain’s signature Labyrinth print. Balmain even created a special colorway of its B-Bold sneaker as part of the collection.
“Pokémon’s bright pop aesthetic and captivating creatures have always appealed to me,” says Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing. “Today, they make me think of an earlier, simpler time, when we all shared a rosy vision of all the positive changes that we were certain that digital innovations would make possible. And that’s a key reason why I’m so happy to partner with Pokémon on this collection — because, right now, we could all use a reminder of those past moments of hope and optimism.”
Balmain has also partnered up with tech firm SharpEnd to create 15 distinct NFC-enabled badges that will be offered at nine Balmain boutiques across the US, Europe, and Asia. Those that obtain these badges will be granted access to digital content and a chance to win prizes such as VIP tickets to the upcoming Balmain Festival during Paris Fashion Week.
A digital version of the Trainer Fashion Set is also available on Pokémon Unite, a free-to-play team battle game available on mobile and Nintendo Switch. Those that log in to the game for seven consecutive days in the month of September will unlock the set for free for limited time use. The digital goods will also be available for in-game purchase.
The Balmain x Pokémon Trainer Fashion Set launches globally on Friday, September 2nd at Balmain boutiques in Paris, New York, Las Vegas, Shanghai, and Chengdu, as well as online at balmain.com. Check out the collection below.
