Louis Vuitton to dress Real Madrid for off-field action
Vuitton will provide the formal wear and formal travel wear collections for Real's men's and women's soccer teams, as well as the men's basketball team.
For the first time, the Maison is placing its tailoring at the service of athletes whose sporting exploits resonate far beyond the stadiums, celebrating the quest for excellence and self-improvement that unite the brand and top-level sport, Vuitton said in a statement.
Founded in 1902, Real is the most decorated professional football team in the world, and holder of a record 15 Champions League titles, the continent's most prestigious soccer competition. However, Real comes off an unsuccessful season, where it failed to win any of the four competitions it entered. The Madrid club also saw its record-holding coach Carlo Ancelotti depart last month to become coach of Brazil — the most successful national team in history.
As a partner of mega sporting events, from the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the Formula 1® World Championship, Vuitton has been highly active in the world of elite sports by manufacturing original trophy trunks that accompany the winners of prestigious international competitions.
Vuitton succeeds the house Versace, which had started dressing Real off-field in 2013, despite the fact Donatella Versace is a committed fan of Inter Milan.
However, by dressing all of Real's representatives during their travels and major events, this new collaboration underlines the French brand's motto: 'La Victoire Voyage en Louis Vuitton' (Victory travels in Louis Vuitton).
"Real Madrid is constantly pushing the boundaries of excellence and innovation. This energy echoes that of Louis Vuitton. This wardrobe has been designed to share that spirit, offering a style that evokes determination, strength and elegance. Real Madrid and Louis Vuitton share common values that motivate our respective actions, making this partnership even stronger," said Pharrell Williams, men's creative director.
The formal wardrobe includes ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories that will be worn at official club events. The wardrobe highlights the house's tailoring art, with refined details such as the VVN leather label, an emblematic leather borrowed from Louis Vuitton trunks to illustrate the expertise of the workshops, embossed with the Louis Vuitton signature and sewn onto the lapel of jackets and the back pocket of pants.
The ready-to-wear collection features a series of characterful accessories, including a leather belt with LV palladium buckle, an embroidered cotton navy cap and the LV Soft shoe.
"We are proud to accompany a club whose history is marked by countless victories at national and international levels and which continues to inspire entire generations. Louis Vuitton and Real Madrid share founding values that have taken them to the very top of their sport, propelled by a relentless quest for excellence, a spirit of innovation and self-improvement,' stressed Pietro Beccari, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton.
A collection of made-to-measure travel items completes the wardrobe. It includes the Horizon 55 cabin suitcase, the iconic Keepall and the Christopher backpack, as well as travel accessories such as a toiletry bag and a passport cover. Each piece is dressed in the iconic Monogram canvas and embellished with white and gold stripes in the club's colors. The initials 'RM' represent an original design created as part of the Mon Monogram personalization service offered to the Maison's customers.
Emilio Butragueño, the former striker for Real Madrid, known as El Buitre (The Vulture) for his ability to poach goals, who is now director of institutional relations, commented: "At Real Madrid, we are convinced that excellence is the key to staying at the top. Louis Vuitton, an emblematic French brand, is also driven by this quest for excellence. We have both managed to remain timeless references, and we share not only the responsibility of building a legacy, but also that of inspiring beyond our respective spheres."
The exclusive Louis Vuitton x Real Madrid formal wear and formal travel wear collections are not available for sale. However, certain emblematic Louis Vuitton models and the Mon Monogram personalization service can be found in stores and on the louisvuitton.com website.
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