05 Sep 2024
Introducing Mulberry x Rejina Pyo, a collaboration exploring Mulberry’s British design DNA through the lens of the celebrated South Korean designer. The limited edition capsule comprises bags, accessories, ready-to-wear and jewellery, with Pyo’s singular design vision reflecting the values to which both brands are committed - Made to Last design, quality and community spirit. Mulberry x Rejina Pyo is the latest chapter in the Mulberry Editions series of collaborations with leading contemporary design talent.
Pyo is renowned for her sensitively designed collections which strive for a sense of freedom, inviting the women who wear them to express themselves. Both timeless and contemporary, her work is discrete with a touch of the unexpected. Taking inspiration from both past and present Mulberry designs, bags include a reworked version of the archival Blenheim style, its roomy exterior pockets stripped back, and the knotted closure borrowed from Pyo’s own collections. An understated Top Handle Crossbody sees the designer draw inspiration from the Clovelly bag family. The Teddy Bear keyring, meanwhile, is a nod to the levity and playfulness that is an undercurrent in both brands. In line with Mulberry’s approach to responsible sourcing across its collections, all leather used is carbon neutral – achieved through offsetting with the World Land Trust – and strictly sourced from environmentally accredited tanneries.
Available in an autumnal palette, the collection plays with the idea of British design archetypes. In addition to the leather goods, Pyo has designed a tight ready-to-wear edit featuring a gently oversized, camel trend coat, crafted in organic cotton, a belted suit in a heritage-check responsibly sourced wool, and a draped knit top in autumn leaf green alpaca-blend.
All designed with the easy elegance that is her calling card, the ready-to-wear – like the bags – features thoughtful details to be appreciated by the wearer. Functionality is spotlighted, comfort the sign of success, and versatile styling options proposed. The knit’s scarf can be wrapped or draped; jackets can be fastened with tortoiseshell buttons, or belted; the bags all have adjustable straps. The collection’s accompanying jewellery – two pairs of earrings and a necklace – has an organic, textural finish and nods to the artistic spirit Pyo’s women possess.
The campaign, shot by photographer Gwen Trannoy and starring Conie Vallese, is an intimate celebration of womanhood, as well as both brands’ strong female community. Handpicked for the campaign by Pyo, Vallese has long been friends with the designer since walking the first Rejina Pyo runway show. The inclusion of the celebrated Argentinian artist and designer – whose pieces often unpack the myriad of layers to womanhood – embodies the spirit of this collaboration. An accompanying film goes behind the scenes of this collaboration, with Pyo engaging in a candid ‘in conversation’, giving unique insight into her process and ethos, as well her reverence for real women and their multifaceted lives. The collaboration will be celebrated through a series of events which bring together both Pyo and Mulberry’s creative families.
“When I collaborate with someone, it’s important for me to consider what they value, what they bring to the world, and how they treat people. The timeless design and Made to Last ethos really resonated with me. Mulberry creates pieces you want to cherish and treasure for a long time, it’s that essence that I always aim to imbue in my own brand.” – Rejina Pyo
The limited-edition collection launched on 4 September 2024, and is available online and at select Mulberry and Rejina Pyo stores. Prices range from AU$340 to AU$2,400.
