For Karen Walker, who has been a Lexus Ambassador for over 13 years, the opportunity to collaborate with Lexus was a natural fit.
“I always love the process of bringing two brands together to create something they couldn’t do independently,” says Karen. “We do this a lot in our work with great partnerships forming the basis of much of our storytelling. It made sense for us to extend our long relationship with Lexus into creating product for them to share with the Lexus community.”
There are two designs available exclusively through Lexus dealerships as part of the collaboration: a Lexus x Karen Walker tote bag and sunglasses.
The Lexus x Karen Walker tote bag is crafted from a soft tan leather that closely matches Lexus’s own tan leather: Ochre. The tote features the elegant Lexus ‘L’ on both sides while the distinctive Lexus spindle grille design is seen in repeat on the handbag’s lining.
The sunglasses reference the lines of the LC 500 coupe, with strong, graphic, rounded frames in black acetate with acetate temples made in a new design inspired by Lexus’s signature Shimamoku woodgrain used throughout their interiors. The iconic Karen Walker arrow, this time in new micro-size, is also on the temples.
As with everything Lexus and Karen Walker touch, attention to detail is key and the eyewear case captures the stunning LC 500 interior combination of blue and orange as well as the Lexus Shimamoku woodgrain.
Karen says Lexus tells its brand story quietly and authentically and it was essential to approach this project in the same way.
“We didn’t want the bag and glasses to be simply existing designs with new badging applied. Lexus had to be integrated and real. We were clear about the intention and parameters and then let the imagination and the craft do the rest,” she says.
“Lexus’s core design philosophy is driven by visionary anticipation, looking to be original and exciting in everything we do,” says Andrew Davis, Lexus New Zealand’s marketing general manager. “We are so glad that we have great partnerships with people like Karen, whose design language exudes those same qualities and brand values.”
The Karen Walker x Lexus handbag and sunglasses will be available to purchase from 1st September, exclusively from Lexus dealerships.
