LFW: Mulberry teams up with Cara Delevingne

Luxury fashion house Mulberry, who are still searching for a creative director to succeed Emma Hill, have unveiled a new collections of bags in collaboration with British model Cara Delevingne during London Fashion Week. The collection, which will all be made in England at the brand’s Somerset ateliers, is a

three-in-one style that the label describes as “uniting Mulberry’s English attitude to functional beauty and Cara’s inimitable personality”. The Mulberry Cara Delevingne Bag can be worn on the shoulder, on the back, or hand-held, and will be available in three different finishes.

Anne-Marie Verdin, Mulberry brand director said: “Cara is the ultimate example of living life to the full: she navigates brilliantly between friends and family, town and country, day and night, London and LA. She crosses continents at the drop of a hat – How could we create a bag to keep up with her? How could we create a bag that could fit with today’s increasingly busy lifestyles?”

Delevingne, who has modelled Mulberry’s previous ad campaigns shot by Tim Walker, as well as walked the catwalk for Burberry and Chanel, is also an up-and-coming actress and “music maker”, and can now add fashion designer to her CV.

The British star has worked closely with the Mulberry design team to create the collection of bags – from visiting the archives to choosing the leathers, as well as sketching ideas, discussing customers’ practical needs and the trend for understated elegance the brand said.

Mulberry added that it was once they had invited Delevingne to its London headquarters that a “true collaboration was born”, and that it was the model’s personality, “her charisma, her cool” that inspired the initial design stage, and that it was her idea to create a bag that was both elegant and practical.

Commenting on the bag and it being made in England, Delevingne said: “I love to be elegant. But it’s about not trying too hard, it has to be effortless.

“The fact that the collection is made here is so cool. I love that a lot. It just seems so natural...the fact that it can come from here and it’s a British company with a great luxury heritage.”

Mulberry unveils Cara Delevingne collection

To launch the collaboration, Mulberry transformed Claridge’s Hotel ballroom into a romantic vision of the English countryside, with mist inspired by the rolling hills of Mulberry’s home in Somerset in a set designed by production designer Michael Howells.

The Mulberry Cara Delevingne Collection will be available in three sizes and three different finishes - the classic natural leather that comes in classic black and oxblood, the quilted Nappa leather in green, blue and black, and the camouflage haircalf in dark green and misty white and grey. Additionally, alongside the three principal designs is a limited edition creation inspired by her famous lion tattoo with gold lion rivets, created by Mulberry’s Somerset atelier, studded to calf leather.

When asked would who would like the Mulberry Cara Delevingne Bag, Delevingne commented: “My Granny will like this bag. She’s one hundred and two years old. My five year old cousin will probably like this bag. He’s a boy.”

Bruno Guillon, Mulberry CEO, added: “Cara is one of the strongest talents in the industry right now, a charming and captivating person who, although young, embodies many of the values of our brand, and importantly, our customers.

“Mulberry the brand has always celebrated paradox. Heritage and innovation, town and country, England and abroad, creativity and common sense. Cara shares these contrasts in her life too.”

The collection will roll out from mid-August 2014 and will be stocked in Mulberry stores, concessions and online worldwide. Prices will start from 890 pounds for a Mini Cara Delevingne Bag to 1,250 pounds for a large version.

 Images: Mulberry Cara Delevingne