Mixmag Asia's favourite brand collabs of 2022

Music has always been an underlying inspiration for many industries; from fashion and furniture to technology and even automobiles. Taking over runways, festivals and even homes, we’ve gathered our favourite collaborations that are either music-related or reference Asia’s multitude of cultures that came out in 2022.

It was hard not to drool over the fashion pieces we picked out, consisting of glow-in-the-dark pieces and 90s rave aesthetic, among others. As for the accessories, just try not to imagine owning a limited-edition aluminium speaker bag, high-fashion Studio Ghibli goodies or smart home furnishing solutions co-designed by Swedish House Mafia.

See how creatively the industries collided this year in our list below.

“RIMOWA and I share an interest in the process, in an object’s evolution over time,” says Daniel Arsham. For this collaboration, they’ve come up with ‘The Eroded Turntable in Pilot Case’, which is a nod to the popular RIMOWA classic pilot case and Arsham’s sculptural skills. Paying attention to every single detail from the pitch controls to the tonearm, the turntable is available for purchase along with the black-coloured pilot case (exclusive to Asia) for S$5,720.00.

More on RIMOWA’s anodized aluminium resilient case and its fragile friend here.

High fashion meets high tech. A handbag that doubles as a speaker is definitely a conversation (and party) starter. Deemed the “Haute Couture hi-fi” product, it first grabbed the attention of many during Balenciaga’s 51^st couture show in Paris, where it blasted out tunes by BFRND. The solid aluminium bag “allows for a continuous flow all the way from the handle to the bass” states its press release. Only 20 of these statement pieces were made, so if you ever catch one in the clubs, make sure to snap a pic for us. It's good to see how tasteful this particular project came out, unlike a certain collab blunder of the past who, fortunately, have been dropped by the brand.

Read more on the “Speaker Bag” here.

Tomorrowland’s ‘Magical Forest of Joy’ came alive with the debut of the BMW iX1 x Steve Aoki, which provided tripped-out ravers another object to stare at. The uniquely-designed wrap that covered the car was co-designed by Aoki himself. Persistent in traversing the multitude of industries outside music (Web3 and NFTs included), Aoki’s design was also filled with “Messages of Joy” sent by fans of Tomorrowland via a dedicated website, which reflects the euphoria towards the festival’s post-pandemic comeback.

Check out Steve Aoki’s chromatic creation with BMW and Tomorrowland here.

A three-piece capsule that launched just in time for summer. The brands are the epitome of a perfect pairing when it comes to dance music and (high) fashion, thanks to the late Virgil Abloh’s love for the two. The two shirts that show off CircoLoco’s iconic clown and Off-White’s cross arrows come in at US$435. As for those seeking to splurge, we recommend you get the black utility vest if you’ve got US$1,350 lying around.

See why we went loco for the capsule collection here.

Yeti Out along with surf and activewear brand Body Glove released three distinct pieces that made use of functional materials and neon yellow accents that make them ideal for late-night dancing or fun in the sun. A glow-in-the-dark shirt, a sports cap embellished with 3M reflective material and a complimenting utility vest — sounds like you’ve got your outfit for day or night sorted. The cherry on top of this collab; an exclusive mix just for Mixmag Asia readers.

Peek the three-piecer and listen to the beats perfect for a day on the beach here.

OBEGRÄNSAD means “unlimited” in Swedish, and we think it’s the perfect title to the SHM x IKEA collab with shows no boundaries in fusing the world of music and furniture. With over 20 items in its collection, the pieces are specifically aimed at DJs, producers and musicians. One of the first to get a makeover was the iconic blue (now black) FRAKTA bag, which the electronic music group recreated into three new products. Making its debut at Milan Design Week in June, the project also previewed its jet-black desk, armchair and record player before going on to reveal the SHM “remix” of IKEA’s KALLAX shelving unit in September.

Read up on the hype around the what we’re calling “the ultimate Swedish collab” when it was first announced here.

Roland’s first-ever collaboration with a record label in releasing apparel. The streetwear capsule collection was also a nod to Roland’s newest member of the family at the time — the Juno-X synth. Both brands also commemorated major milestone anniversaries and weren’t shy of showing them off in the designs, which highlight the celebrated synth, both companies’ founding year and location, plus give a shoutout to those who have stayed true to Roland in making music. The drop also came with another favourite of ours — a playlist made up of artists who record and perform using Roland instruments.

Read more about Roland and Dais Records’ foray into fashion here.

The second coming together of the luxury fashion brand and the beloved Japanese animation studio. ‘Spirited Away’ is such a classic, who wouldn’t want to don their iconic characters of whimsical and accessible wearables? Staying true to its style of craftsmanship and use of jacquard, print, appliquè, leather marquetry and embroidery, LOEWE also steps out of its usual manner of production by applying the Japanese technique of boro, which mends and indigo-dyes fabric scraps that are patchworked together.

"Studio Ghibli's exquisite storytelling is matched by a tireless dedication to craft in order to bring their enchanting films to life," says LOEWE’s Creative Director, Jonathan Anderson.

See LOEWE’s tribute to the highest-grossing film in Japanese history here.

Two of Tokyo’s top names in fashion come together for a quirky collection of 14 pieces that are eye-catching to say the least. Tattoo artist Tim Lehi, a good friend of those at Wacko Maria, contributed his craft to a tiger print shirt emblazoned with both brands’ logos. Another collaborator is famed calligrapher Unokichi Tachibana, who proves the art of calligraphy is far from dead even in the world of fashion.

Read up on and take a look at the Wacko Maria x BlackEyePatch capsule here.

Looks like many were riding the “90s rave wave” that hit 2022 this year and we’re not complaining. Dua Lipa and Puma’s party-ready collection consists of vividly-coloured items that electrify with pink, purple and orange hues and not forgetting to add a touch of nostalgia with holographic elements. The pop singer also mentions how the central theme of the collection is actually the butterfly insignia which reminds her of vintage rave flyers she came across back in the day. Though this drop didn’t come with a playlist, Dua Lipa did the next best thing and hosted a party at East London’s Bistrotheque restaurant for the launch.

For more on ‘Flutur’, click here.