It’s hard to believe that a year has come and gone since a total of five new Sport Collections debuted back in spring 2017, among which was a particular vintage-style jacket that seemed to catch everyone’s eye simultaneously. Now, just over a year later, BMW Lifestyle has announced the debut of fully updated product ranges for four of its twelve collections. The refreshed offerings include the BMW Collection, BMW M Collection, BMW i Collection, and BMW The Collection, while the athletic and sport-oriented ranges continue to be sold in their current forms, which were updated in recent years.
BMW says that much of the design language found across the new clothing and accessories takes cues from the BMW Vision Next 100 Concept—yes, the one with Alive Geometry. This theme is visible on simple items like the BMW Thermal Mug, which wears the same exterior “haptic structure,” as BMW calls it. It’s also seen on the Notebook and Men’s Soft Down Jacket inner lining.
Another change that’s more immediately obvious is the rather subtle color palette, along with the somewhat subdued presence of BMW branding. Roundels still appear on a healthy number of items, but some of the specific accessories that used to be emblazoned with the blue-and-white logo now appear significantly toned down. BMW says that copper, dark blue, grays, and whites provide elegant contrast among themselves, while most logos have been kept more discreet than in the past.
Built to champion the goals of sustainability melded with premium quality and exceptional design innovation, BMW i Collection offerings have also been revamped. The BMW i Rucksack is made from a vegan imitation leather constructed of apple fiber that’s branded as Appleskin, while the BMW i Pencil Set makes use of material byproduct left over from construction of BMW i car seats. The BMW i T-Shirt features Tencel lyocell fabric material, which is derived from eucalyptus wood.
The BMW M Boardcase is finished in the same Marina Bay Blue Metallic worn by the new F90 M5, and rolls on swiveling casters that also pay homage to the car.
But not everything has been toned down. The BMW M Collection has been refinished to follow a new color scheme that uses Marina Bay Blue Metallic—the official color of the F90 M5. The BMW M Boardcase, essentially a carry-on-size hard-side spinner, is made of Makrolon polycarbonate, and has a shape inspired by the rooflines of modern M cars, while the swiveling casters beneath it are modeled after the wheels of the new M5.
On the high end, BMW The Collection has been re-inspired by the highline individual design elements available in today’s 7 Series. Travel items including accessories and smart luggage are among the offerings, but the designers of the suitcases were forward-thinking, and the 10,000 mAh battery power bank can be removed if necessary. The partnership between Montblanc and BMW has also been extended, with new designs added to that range as well. Many of the fine leather items and accessories now follow the quilted pattern found on the interior of the current 7 Series, and high-end writing instruments with hand-crafted gold and platinum accents are also available.—Alex Tock
Montblanc for BMW
[Photos courtesy BMW Group.]
