Acclaimed rapper Kendrick Lamar has been named the newest brand ambassador for Chanel, according to an announcement made yesterday. The partnership will debut with an eyewear campaign photographed by Karim Sadli, expected to launch before week's end.
"Chanel possesses a timeless legacy, something I've always valued", Lamar stated regarding the collaboration. "Since they don't produce menswear, I knew our partnership would center on eyewear".
The relationship between the hip-hop artist and the French fashion house began developing in 2023 when Lamar attended the Karl Lagerfeld-themed Met Gala wearing a custom quilted leather bomber jacket created by then-creative director Virginie Viard. This connection deepened when Chanel enlisted pgLang, Lamar's multidisciplinary creative company, to design the set for their Spring/Summer 2024 haute couture show and produce a short film titled "The Button."
Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Chanel's fashion division, explained the strategy behind this partnership: "We see substantial opportunity in the eyewear category. Beyond being merely a fashion accessory, eyewear embodies Chanel's allure and regularly appears on our runways. Their adaptable style, which incorporates house codes, provides the finishing touch to a silhouette. Through our Chanel & moi program, we've developed various services for this category to ensure perfect fit and superior customer experience".
While the luxury label has seldom included menswear in its ready-to-wear collections, Lamar isn't the first male ambassador for the double-C brand. He joins Korean musician G-Dragon and actor Timothée Chalamet among the men who have represented Chanel.
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Eric Grischott
Born in Groningen in 1991, Eric Grischott is a linguist with a deep-rooted passion for art, music, and fashion. His academic journey led him to graduate in languages, further enriching his linguistic prowess. His thirst for knowledge and cultural immersion took him abroad, where he gained invaluable experience and insights. Eric’s linguistic expertise is not confined to just theory. He has honed his skills in French and German through specialized DELF and DELE courses, demonstrating his commitment to mastering these languages. His passions extend beyond languages, encompassing the creative realms of art, the rhythmic world of music, and the dynamic sphere of fashion.