Detractors might say that Tiffany & Co. dropped the ball when they collaborated with Supreme at the end of last year, but the New York jeweller has really dropped the ball this time. Literally, with a bouncing collaboration between Tiffany and Daniel Arsham in the form of a Wilson basketball.
If you think this sounds a little outside of Tiffany’s typical wheelhouse, you’d be right, but should also expect to see more of this type of collaboration from the 5th Avenue establishment. Since the iconic jewellery brand was finally taken over by LVMH, the brand has worked to dispel the old-world perceptions associated with Tiffany, seeking to inject fresh vitality into a plateauing reputation.
Since LVMH took over, we’ve seen a string of compellingly youthful collaborations, with the “Not Your Mother’s Tiffany” campaign, a shoot featuring Jay-Z, Beyonce and a robin egg blue Basquiat, as well as the previously mentioned linkup with Supreme. This latest basketball collaboration is only further evidence that LVMH is quickly bringing Tiffany & Co into the cultural conversation of the moment.
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As far as collaborating with Daniel Arsham, this basketball isn’t the first time the popular contemporary artist has worked with Tiffany, as the two released a deconstructed take on the signature Tiffany Blue box last September. Arsham has chops in the basketball world already, as the current Creative Director of the Cleveland Cavaliers, making the basketball a comfortable medium for him.
The timing of this collaboration’s release is tied to the NBA’s All-Star Weekend on February 18th, where fans will be able to visit The May pop-up in downtown Cleveland and shoot hoops, or simply pick up one of these instantly recognisable basketballs. While there’s no word on local Australian pricing, the ball will set you back US$575 (~$AU800). It might sound like a lot for a Wilson, but the prices for the Tiffany and Spalding collaboration have only gone one way.
