In this era of collaborations, high-end alcohol and creative people are often thrown together. Last week, I blogged about Damien Hirst designing a label and a box for limited edition bottles of Somerset Cider Brandy. This week, it is time to turn our attention to fashion designers collaborating on designs for bottles of fine wine. The fashion biggies in question are Karl Lagerfeld and Banana Republic.
First up, let us look at Karl Lagerfeld. Really, that man is everywhere. One of his most recent projects was illustrating a label for the prestigious Chateau Rauzan-Segla, which celebrates its 350th anniversary this year. Chanel bought over the winery in 1994. Lagerfeld was roped in to design a label for the winery’s 2009 vintage. In addition to celebrating 350 years of wine-making, the label will also celebrate a good harvest. Lagerfeld’s illustrated label is as elegant as one might expect. He illustrated the Bordeaux castle that serves as the winery, using colors to bring it to life.
The second big collaboration in this area is Banana Republic’s tie-up with Clos du Bois, a winery in Northern California. While Lagerfeld’s label exudes retro-elegance, Banana Republic’s label oozes contemporary chic. The high-style quotient of the Banana Republic-designed label will adorn several best-selling blends from the house of Clos du Bois.
The designs of the labels for Clos du Bois are the handiwork of Banana Republic’s creative director Simon Kneen. The labels bear sketch-like illustrations of fashionably dressed women. The final effect is smart, and hugely stylish. A big plus for the Banana Republic-Clos du Bois tie-up is that the designer wine bottles are affordable for a change, with the Chardonnay priced at $16.99 and the Cabernet costing $18.99.
