Seems like we won’t just be collecting rare Pokemons this holiday season; we’re also going to catch Longchamp’s limited-edition bag with Pikachu.
If you’re a 90s baby, you probably grew up playing Pokémon. Successful for its whimsy, spirit, and storytelling, we can say that it was also the most iconic game for Millennials. Many of us would spend our youth capturing, battling, and trading Pokémon on our game consoles of the time, as well as filling up our versions of a Pokedex. But just when our generation thought that our Pokemon days are over since we’re all grown up, we were so wrong.
As Nintendo released Pokemon Go, an augmented reality game for mobile phones, this created a whole new phenomenon in the world of gaming. The moment it was launched in 2015, it broke records like the fastest to earn $100 million and the most-downloaded in its first month of release. Upon looking at the demographics, spending habits, and preferences of the users, it wasn’t really the Gen Z’s who teemed the game. Its success was largely constructed on its appeal to its fans from the 1990s.
Given its favorable outcome, it will almost certainly influence the design of future AR experiences for the coming years. Although this may be, the Pokemon phenomenon won’t just impact the entertainment industry, because as the gaming world has tremendously evolved with a huge market, it has also penetrated the fashion industry—one of which is the French heritage house of Longchamp.
As the majority of the generation’s form of entertainment is all about gaming, it’s only fitting for a brand to attract the biggest generation that has the highest purchasing power. And if you’re a real OG trainer (just like us), we can agree that we not only catch Pokemons in-game; we also collect them all wherever we see them—from bags, shoes, to t-shirts.
Ready, Player One
In the most recent collaborative collection of Longchamp, we are given our favorite electric-type creature playing in their most covetable bag. By marrying two icons, we are treated with an exciting and beautiful collaboration that allows us to relive our youth and channel our inner child.
This blend of French savior faire and Japanese kawaii leaves nothing to chance. Longchamp is an acknowledged master in the art of dynamic collaborations that revisit the Le Pliage’s con brio. “Our Le Pliage bag has become a platform where all the different aspects of Longchamp can be expressed and can also take us to unknown places,” Artistic Director Sophie Delafontaine explains. “We hadn’t explored entertainment and gaming before. It’s a very inspiring world, particularly with Pokemon. Our two worlds—real and virtual—blend perfectly in this collaboration.”
Pikachu brings a touch of fun to these bags which are available in four exclusive versions: in black and white LGP canvas; in embossed leather; in a numbered, limited edition; and in black canvas featuring a Pikachu specially designed for the fashion house and wearing a jockey’s helmet that pays homage to the Longchamp logo. So, for all those who once dreamt of being a Pokemon Trainer, this new Le Pliage bag could just be your ultimate badge of honor.
Gotta Catch ‘Em All
When Pokemon Go was initially launched, everyone was so hyped simply because we were given a chance to live our dream adventure in the real world. As we walk in our neighborhood or travel across the country, we were always on the lookout in our phones in case a wild Pokemon suddenly appears.
So, to help celebrate this great collaboration between Longchamp and the Pokemon Company, they have decided to throw a special in-game event for all trainers during Paris Fashion Week. This would allow Pokemon GO players to show off their fashion with a new Longchamp x Pokemon avatar backpack accessory item.
Beginning Friday, October 2 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (GMT -7) and continuing through Thursday, October 8 at 10:00 p.m., certain fashionable Pokemon will be appearing in the wild. So, just imagine a very chic Vulpix (or fingers crossed, Ninetales) would appear. They would be challenging Trainers in raids and could also hatch from eggs. Now, this is what we would truly call a fashionable adventure that could only happen once in a lifetime. Trust us, it’s definitely not worth missing.
Longchamp is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Cebu, Greenbelt 5, and Rustans.com.