Announced months ago, the highly anticipated Karl Lagerfeld x Alled-Martinez collaborative collection will be available this month, starting June 15.
This collection marks the first collaboration of young Spanish designer Archie M. Alled-Martinez, founder of the Alled-Martinez label, with a premium brand – in this case with Karl Lagerfeld, the Parisian brand that bears the name of the late great fashion designer.
Conceived by Alled-Martinez, the collection was created in close collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld’s design director, Hun Kim, and style consultant Carine Roitfeld. Consisting of clothing and accessories, the collection “celebrates the brand’s (Karl Lagerfeld’s, ed. note) Parisian-chic aesthetic” as it “reimagines the late designer’s vision through a queer perspective“, according to the release.
“This collection is a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld himself, to fashion and to the iconic fashion moments from the early 00s that left a mark on me while growing up”, Archie M. Alled-Martinez said. “The collaboration came naturally; I brought some daringness to Karl’s rigor and style. At its core is the belief that fashion needs to be real. There’s no right or wrong – it’s about knowing and celebrating who you are”.
The collection that lends itself well to both genders and in tune with the current zeitgeist includes knit suits – knits being an Alled-Martinez signature – a jersey and lurex suit with a unique denim-like finish (also an Alled-Martinez signature) and sparkling sequin pieces. Key accessories range from rings to bowling bags to tote bags to driving gloves that evoke Karl Lagerfeld’s iconic look. All pieces are highlighted by a sharp palette and bold graphics, with a queer, vibrant and modern attitude.
“I immediately fell in love with Archie’s knitted suits”, said Carine Roitfeld, Style Advisor of Karl Lagerfeld. “Archie’s universe is modern and humorous, and his designs have an easy-to-wear feeling. Karl also had a great sense of humor, and I’m sure they would have had an amazing time together. What’s more, Karl loved jersey. For many reasons, I was sure that Alled-Martinez and Karl Lagerfeld would be a great match”.
Still little known to the general public, Archie M. Alled-Martinez, originally from Barcelona, graduated from Central Saint Martins in London in 2018, with a Master’s degree specializing in knitwear in hand. He joined the house of Givenchy in the process, before leaving a year later to found his own brand Alled-Martinez. Thanks to an incredible knitted sequinned denim outfit he made for British singer Harry Styles, his name began to circulate in the fashion world. In 2020, he was selected as semi-finalist for the LVMH Prize, and a year later he took the plunge, presenting his label for the first time on the Paris calendar.
