Capsule collections aplenty feature the ferocious animal front and center.
Last week, in what is perhaps the most striking stunt led by a maison for Lunar New Year, Bottega Veneta took over a part of China’s Great Wall for six days.
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Making use of a large digital screen, the label flashed “新春快乐” in Bottega green and tangerine. In line with this installation, the fashion also pledged to support the renovation and maintenance of the Great Wall’s eastern stronghold Shanhai Pass.
While bold colors also appear in the capsule collections of several maisons, the common element isn’t hue, but a decidedly feline print. Since 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger, many brands went all out on the animal, which, according to Chinese culture, symbolizes passion, daring, auspiciousness and safety.
From sparkling accessories to skincare, here are but some of them:
Dior
Kim Jones partnered with East Village art scene leader Kenny Scharf for a capsule collection for Lunar New Year. The American artist created a reinterpretation of the Water Tiger, which the maison incorporated into a collection it describes as brimming with joyous energy.
This motif is expressed as prints, embroidery, and patches over shirts, knitwear, denim, and down jackets. Scharf’s water tiger also appears in accessories, from Dior Lock Bags to men’s jewelry.
Salvatore Ferragamo
While the Italian luxury house also chose to collaborate, it instead chose to work with two Chinese artists. Sun Yuan and Peng Yu created a unique print based off the Water Tiger, which will be used in a capsule collection. The tiger is seen playing with other wild creatures in a classic Chinese garden, strewn with rocks, plants, and flowers.
This print is used in the collection’s silk foulard and Ferragamo Studio Bag. A festive red dominates the collection as seen on the Trifolio handbag and Chelsea boots as well as men’s accessories. The Gancini pattern is also used, appearing on cross body bags and sneakers.
Kenzo
Reinvented in a new print, the tiger also makes a statement on the limited-edition Kenzo’s capsule for the Lunar New Year. For the first time, Kenzo’s totem animal takes on a streetwear edge in a complete line of ready-to-wear pieces for men and women, as well as unisex accessories.
Sweatshirts, jeans with straight legs or straps, a cropped bomber jacket, jumpers, T-shirts and jogger sets for a new year that’s more comfortable, versatile and on-the-go than ever. The pieces are available in pop colors such as medium red and golden yellow while the textiles and leathers join more classic shades like peacock blue or navy blue.
Tod’s
The Italian luxury leather goods specialist celebrates Lunar New Year by drawing inspiration from two different emblems: the elegant coat of the tiger and the lucky colors of red and gold.
The limited edition includes Tod’s T-Timeless bag in a tiger print fabric with black leather details and Tod’s Kate bag, available also in red calf leather, as well as the Tod’s Kate Loafer and Sneakers both in the tiger print version. The golden details of the T-Timeless logo and the metal chain accessories also add a luxurious touch.
Clarins
French beauty brand presents a limited edition of its bestselling Double Serum in time for Lunar New Year. Enriched with 21 plant extracts, this anti-aging concentrate enriched with 21 plant extracts to stimulate hydration, nutrition, oxygenation, regeneration and protection of the skin.
The serum is available in a limited packaging, which prominently features a line art of a tiger in gold with the bottles rich red as its background. Clarins was inspired by the legend of the tiger with wings in creating this limited edition.
Charriol
Continuing its Forever Animal Collection, Charriol turns to the Chinese zodiac for its latest headliner. The brand’s Forever Tiger collection features winsome bangles and a watch that captures the charm, grace, and daring courage of the Panthera Tigris.
The bangle features the silhouette of the striped beast stalking the marshy jungle with signature stealth and ease, a precocious cub in tow. On the other hand, the Forever Tiger watch has two eyes set on a composition of black strokes on orange ground. A gold bezel frames diamond markers finished off with the brand’s classic cable band.
Gucci
While the maison’s creative director Alessandro Michele already incorporates the tiger into his designs, Lunar New Year gives him another reason to indulge in his fascination with nature. For this capsule collection, the fashion house reinterprets a 1960s archival design by Vittorio Accornero.
This print is presented in an all-over variation across the ready-to-wear assortment from outerwear and denim to shirts and dresses among other items. Prints, patches and embroideries can also be seen on signature shoe and bag silhouettes, often combined with the GG monogram. Eyewear, silk accessories and hats round out the Gucci Tiger selection.
