ELLESSE X SMILEY TEAM UP WITH MAISIE WILLIAMS AND REUBEN SELBY TO CREATIVE DIRECT NEWEST CAMPAIGN
words Filipe Phitzgerard - images courtesy of Ellesse - photography Shannon Kennedy
Iconic Italian apparel and footwear label Ellesse has teamed up with 70s cult rave brand Smiley to create their newest collection together and to make things even more dope the labels have invited Game of Thrones star and multifaceted creative Maisie Williams to join the creative team behind the campaign along with contemporary photographer and creative director Reuben Selby. The exclusive project celebrates diversity and acceptance to launch the Ellesse x Smiley collaboration.
The collection - and collab as a whole - focus on the heritage each brand has within sub-cultures especially in music and the nightlife scenes. Demonstrating Ellesse's colourful flair and track-ready tailoring the collection sees a re-energised design approach where innovative fabrics, colours and silhouettes are explored to match the already vibrant spirit of Smiley. The capsule is the perfect combination of both worlds while preserving durability, comfort, and fashionability at a high level of quality.
When it comes to the campaign imagery, Ellesse and Smiley brought in contemporary power-couple Maisie Williams and Rueben Selby whom involvement with the project went all the way from concept to execution. The duo celebrates the collection while infusing the campaign with their own personal interpretation. When talking about the campaign and collaboration with the fashion labels Williams states that this is all about the celebration of "individuality and friendship”. Williams and Selby worked closely with creative agency Cortex and model agency Contact (which Selby founded) to showcase the footwear and apparel pieces in a series of images and video exploring contrasting characters that unite through music and fashion. On the casting of the campaign, Selby notes; “friendships have no boundaries. We built the story around four characters from completely different backgrounds and despite their differences, it doesn't stop them from enjoying each other's company".
The collection brings together both Ellesse and Smiley's ethos as well as their individual yet harmonious flair and vibrance. Fit for the festival season, the collection is formed of 21 apparel pieces for women and a smaller capsule collection for men where some of the highlighted pieces include the transparent poncho, iridescent shell suit and a range of co-ords which are present in both the men’s and women’s collection. Two of Ellesse's archive footwear styles have also been updated along with a range of accessories including bum bags, caps, and bucket hats. Finishing the pieces is a dual logo which uses Ellesse’s ‘semi palla’ shape with the traditional Smiley face icon – a symbol that has been recognised and represent throughout music movements of past decades and culture.
The creative campaign is now live as well as the Ellesse X Smiley collection which is available to buy at ellesse.com. Prices range from £20.00- £80.00.
