Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones: An artistic collaboration
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Schenelle Dsouza- 7 minutes read
Schenelle Dsouza
Brand collaborations are not an unusual concept. However, the recent collaboration between Dior’s artistic director, Kim Jones and Hennessy has us both confused and excited.
The collaboration is titled Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones Collection; the drop features a gold bottle holder, a decanter and a chic pair of brown-toned sneakers. Although unveiled a few days ago, the collection is said to go live on March 17.
A unique partnership
Kim Jones’ artistic abilities in Dior’s menswear and Fendi’s womenswear collections are no secret. Just look up some of his remarkable pieces and you’ll notice that almost all of them were sold out immediately, proving the artist’s calibre as a designer. While both Jones and Hennessy are acquainted with collaborations, this is the first time the liquor brand has been associated with a fashion collaboration.
“We are thrilled to embark on a new odyssey blending cognac-making and couture with Kim Jones, a creative master of our time,” said Laurent Boillot, Hennessy CEO. “Inspired by the emblematic personality of Hennessy X.O, Kim has developed a resolutely contemporary collection that is destined to make an impact on culture today and in the future.”
A very interesting revelation about the collaboration is that Jones does not even drink Hennesey’s cognac. In fact, in an interview with Elle, the designer shared that he is allergic to the spirit and even though he was tempted to try it out during the collaboration, he was forced to stay away from it.
Cognac meets couture
The highlight of the collection is a stunning pair of HNY Low sneakers designed and crafted in an LVMH-owned shoe factory in Italy. The shoes are made of light cognac-coloured nubuck leather with a design inspired by early basketball shoes. A technical sole in tonal grooved rubber features the initials “KJ” and Hennessy’s bras armé emblem alongside an imprint of cognac vines.
“I wanted it to be elevated and chic, to reflect both the long heritage of cognac and my own design values,” adds Jones. “I wanted it to feel like you’re almost looking into the bottle. It’s a glass of cognac in sneaker form.”
The other collectable in the drop is the gold bottle decanter. The drink, which was originally hand-wrapped in tissue paper at the turn of the 20th century, inspired the design of the decanter. Crafted from 3-D printing and meticulous hand-finishing, the decanter features a series of special titanium casings twisted around the bottle, with a silhouette similar to that of an elegant couture gown.
The final piece is the Hennessy X.O limited edition ‘ready-to-wear’ version of the decanter, where the Hennessy X.O bottle is encased in an aluminium second skin. The structure has been designed to showcase the signature shape of the bottle while evoking a couture silhouette.
“When I saw how the vintage Hennessy bottles were wrapped, it spoke volumes to me about how precious each one is, and how they were handled. I was particularly touched by their history and the sense of how generations have dedicated their time to making each step of the process better and better. That same process also holds true with fashion,” says Jones.
To extract the Cognac from its golden metal covering, you’ll need to use the handy fusil designed by Jones. The fusil is an elegant and playful ritual to serve a glass of the Hennessy X.O blend.
