BALLY: A collaboration with contemporary art! "BALLYLove" is finally released.

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An event to explore BALLY's archives!

"BALLYLove" is finally here

BALLY, Switzerland's premier luxury leather brand, is launching "BALLYLove," a collaboration collection with New York-based contemporary artist Olaf Breuning, which garnered attention at Art Basel last year.

Text by TAKAYAMA Yumiko

BALLY's collaboration with contemporary art!

BALLY's relationship with art dates back to 1910, when it commissioned popular illustrators of the time for its "BALLY Poster" advertising campaigns, releasing works by renowned artists such as Laubi, Baumgärtel, Berset, Hadler, and Bernard Villemot. It's still fresh in our memory how Villemot's work, used as an advertising poster in 1982, became the inspiration for the Autumn/Winter 2011-12 womenswear collection.

Since 2010, BALLY has partnered with Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach, the world's largest art fairs. In the same year, the "BALLYLove" collection, a collaboration with globally active artists in the contemporary art field, was launched.

The first installment, by Swiss artist Philippe Decrauzat, made waves by incorporating geometric grids, stripes, and polka dots with a pop art sensibility into the designs of shoes and bags.

The second installment features Olaf Breuning, based in New York. Breuning is known for his bold, humorous style that uses everyday scenes and landscapes as subjects, employing media such as photography, film, sculpture, drawing, and installation to create works that possess a peculiar resonance within the ordinary. He is an emerging artist gaining attention in the fashion world as well as in contemporary art.

From Olaf Breuning's work. "Smoke Bombs" 2008. ©Metro Pictures

Breuning drew inspiration from his 2010 work "Marilyns" and BALLY's vintage posters to create a visual narrative. Five models, their bodies painted white, wore wigs, shoes, bags, and gloves made of masking tape. This unique concept formed the basis for the "BALLYLove" second collection, which was unveiled last June at the Art Basel Collectors' Lounge.

Inspired by this imagery, BALLY's Creative Directors Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz collaborated with Breuning to design the actual "BALLYLove" collection. Comprising womenswear ballerinas, menswear loafers, tote bags, handbags, messenger bags, scarves, and other accessories, the collection is pop and colorful, with designs that bring a sense of joy.

Pouch [W18.5×H13.5cm] ¥54,600

Sneakers ¥52,500

Bag [W37×H41.5cm] ¥74,550

Pre-order event at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store!

From Wednesday, March 7th to Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, BALLY will host an event at the Central Hall on the first floor of the Main Building at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store. Rare archival pieces and posters from the BALLY Shoe Museum in Switzerland will be exhibited for this event, alongside the latest Spring/Summer 2012 men's and women's collections. Furthermore, pre-orders for the "BALLYLove" collection will be accepted at the event venue, with a limited number of novelty gifts for early purchasers. Don't miss this chance to experience BALLY's precious archives of art and craftsmanship!

Bally Japan
Tel. 03-6215-6609