These are set for release in the coming weeks.
READ ALSO: Further Forward: Virgil Abloh Dedicates LVMH’s Acquisition Of Off-White “For The Dreamers”
The NBA Finals may be over with the Milwaukee Bucks claiming their first championship in 50 years, but there’s no collaborations with the league. This time, among other clothing and accessories, Louis Vuitton is releasing a signature backboard and ball.
Designed by Virgil Abloh, artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear, who took inspiration from the brand’s signature trunks, the clear backboard features gold corner caps and frosted branding. It also comes with bright orange fasteners and the classic orange rim with net. To accessorize, the brand also offers a number of stickers
An accompanying basketball in the old Spalding design also features the logos of both NBA and Louis Vuitton in black trim design against classic dark leather.
Continued partnership
The backboard and basketball are part of an ever-growing Louis Vuitton x NBA collection.
The first release, unveiled in October last year, featured a clothing and accessories line uniting the emblems of the two institutions.
“This collection celebrates the cultural contribution of basketball and its diverse characters, and the idea of relatability as a force of unity,” Abloh says of the collection.
The second edition, released just last May, is a complete wardrobe based on the three dress modes of a basketball player: travel, game, and press conference.
“Bags featuring basketball-net detailing and NBA insignia from the initial season expand into new forms,” the website’s description of the collection reads. “A new line of leather goods have [also] been crafted with a grain that imitates classic basketball material.”
Box defense
Apart from menswear collections, Louis Vuitton has been the NBA’s official trophy travel case provider since 2020. It marks the first time the league has ever had custom trunks, which the fashion house has been making for other sports competitions like the Formula 1 races.
The brand has so far created two trunks for the basketball league, both of which are hand-crafted in Paris.
For the 2021 NBA Finals, the trophy trunk can be seen in the emblematic monogram canvas, fitted with a traditional brass fixture, and adorned with the iconic V in white with blue and red details. Inside, the trunk is lined with the NBA’s official dark blue color, making the gold Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy stand out.
There’s no word yet just how much the backboard and basketball will cost, but both will be available at select Louis Vuitton locations in the coming weeks, as .
Banner from @dlouisv.co on IG
