Brands launch Chinese New Year capsule collections, adding to luxury buoyancy
This year, the Rabbit – the fourth animal sign – makes its gentle appearance, much to our delight.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, many luxury brands are getting us celebration-ready by dropping a limited-edition capsule collection featuring our favourite animal sign of 2023 – the Rabbit.
Each year, we go through a change in animal signs according to the 12-year cycle. This year, the Rabbit – the fourth animal sign – makes its gentle appearance, much to our delight.
Most brands have chosen to merge their archival designs with the Rabbit motif, giving us striking, updated looks, but others like Balenciaga have kept quiet this festive season due to its recent saga.
Brands like Tiffany & Co. opted without the rabbit motif but chose to update their iconic product, the Tiffany T wire bracelet with a touch of precious gems; while Fendi keeps it bright in white and red for their Lunar New Year collection.
Take a look at some of these styles which you can shop for now.
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Gucci
Echoing the joyful mood of the occasion, Gucci's special capsule collection sees a fanciful use of colour, print, and embellishment across ready-to-wear, bags, shoes, accessories, jewellery, and timepieces. Diverse depictions of the rabbit appear across the lineup, woven into knitwear, on embroidered patches, or in a distinctive spray-paint-style version seen on T-shirts, leather loafers, and G-Timeless watches.
For womenswear, there is a refined selection of printed silk blouses and skirts, paired with boldly geometric pieces in contrasting hues. The men’s selection furthers the theme of playful graphic patterns in sporty silhouettes.
For accessories, the shoe line conjures the essence of the rabbit with ear-like bows adorning heels and fleece textures enriching loafers. Special renditions of the House’s signature handbags from Gucci Diana totes with hand-painted stripes to Gucci Horsebit 1955 shoulder bags featuring precious leathers, tweeds, and studs, complete the capsule.
We are coveting:
1. Gucci Diana Medium tote bag
2. Gucci bunny print cotton jersey cropped T-shirt
3. Gucci waterlily print T-shirt
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is welcoming the Year of the Rabbit with playful and cheerful bunnies decked in Louis Vuitton accessories paired with the maison's motifs from the classic collection. The rabbit print can be found on accessories such as scarfs, jewelry and handbags.
There's also the exclusive Yayoi Kussma collection with colourful red dots motif if you're a major fan.
1. Precious Rabbit Square 90
Wrap around in style.
2. Rabbit Earpods Case
The cutest way to store your ear pods safely.
Dior
After celebrating the Tiger in 2022 with a limited edition of Grand Soir, Dior Timepieces is honouring the zodiac sign of the year 2023, the Rabbit, with an exquisite creation featuring an exceptional Métiers d’Art dial. To top it off, there is a limited collection of rabbit-inspired wear that you would be interested in as well.
1. Dior Grand Soir Year of the Rabbit
A classy timepiece that will make you perk up with delight.
2. Dior Tribales Earrings
The hallmark resin pearls reveal a gold-finish metal rabbit in the back.
Shop Dior on Vestiaire Collective
Prada
According to the Lunar calendar, 2023 is the year of the rabbit – a gentle, elegant and contemplative animal. Prada is marking the start of the year with the Memories of Beauty campaign, which celebrates the memory and the sharing of happy moments connected to the Lunar New Year.
The campaign stars renowned singer Cai Xukun, previously the iconic face of the Prada 520 and Prada Lunar New Year 2021 campaigns; actress Chunxia, who was named Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards for her performance in Port of Call; actor Bai Yufan, fresh from his success in the series Shan Hai Qing; and model and actress Du Juan.
The highlight of the women’s items is the new Prada Moon bag, a contemporary reworking of an iconic 2000s model with a harmonious and bold style. The men’s selection includes velvet garments, austere twill jackets, brushed leather lace-ups, square bags stamped with the Prada triangle logo and nappa leather sneakers with large volumes. The collection is available from January 2023 online at prada.com and in selected Prada stores.
Shop Prada on Farfetch Shop on Prada website
Fendi
Fendi launches an exclusive capsule collection to celebrate the 2023 Lunar New Year and the start of the year of the Rabbit. The special collection draws inspiration from the reinterpretation of the Fendi Roma logo created by Marc Jacobs on the Baguette bag 25th Anniversary Collection, coloured for the Lunar New Year in white and red, the dominant colour of the capsule and symbol of good fortune and joy.
In the collection, fans will also be able to spot icons and new shapes, as well as a selection of ready-to-wear pieces, with its new eye-catching look.
1. Fendi Baguette
Shop on Fendi website Shop Fendi on Net-A-Porter
Roger Vivier
This Lunar New Year, Roger Vivier celebrates with a special selection from the Maison's Spring Summer 2023 collection by Creative Director Gherado Felloni.
Inspired by the beautiful gardens of the Château de Versailles, the Broche Vivier Buckle Scrunchie and Buckle Hair Clip is crafted in red with the distinct Maison crystal buckle signature, adding a touch of sparkle to the hair.
1. Roger Vivier Broche Vivier Buckle Scrunchie Elastic in Velvet
2. Roger Vivier Jeu de Fille Strass Buckle Clutch Bag in Velvet
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is ushering in the Year of the Rabbit with the launch of the Lunar New Year campaign starring the house’s global brand ambassador, Olympic champion in freestyle skiing Eileen Gu.
Exclusively for this Lunar New Year, the brand launches a new limited-edition Tiffany T wire bracelet reimagined in a striking combination of 18k rose gold with pink sapphires.
Shop on Tiffany & Co. website Shop on Vestiaire Collective
Bottega Veneta
Bottega Veneta is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a new message in a short film. The film titled ‘Reunion in Motion’ by Director Jess Jing Zou portrays characters on the road home, exploring introspection and togetherness as the individuals travel through different landscapes in China. The second collaboration between Zou and the brand follows their recent Qixi campaign released last July, titled ‘Love in Motion’.
Motion is essential to Creative Director Matthieu Blazy’s vision for the brand. “Bottega Veneta is in essence pragmatic because it is a leather goods company. Because it specialises in bags, it is about movement, of going somewhere; there is fundamentally an idea of craft in motion,” says Blazy.
1. Small Brick Casette
Loro Piana
Loro Piana pays homage to the rabbit, the symbol of beauty, elegance, goodness and intelligence in Eastern culture. A universal symbol of luck, the rabbit motif decorates Loro Piana accessories in a sophisticated, subtle, yet elegant manner.
Featuring trim in contrasting colours, the entire Collection has soft silhouettes and a comfortable fit. Made from iconic Loro Piana yarns and fabrics from Baby Cashmere to Cashfur, the Capsule Collection is playful, original and distinctive, where ancient Chinese culture meets unique Italian tradition and craftsmanship and the essence of Loro Piana style.
Shop on Loro Piana website Shop Loro Piana on MyTheresa
MCM
German luxury house MCM brings the zeitgeist to the Zodiac with an upcycling tribute of the Year of the Rabbit. Haru the Wicked Rabbit from the brand's fan favourite trio ‘Henry, Haru, Kaiser’ comes reinvented in a graffiti-driven aesthetic that also nods to the German Easter Hare, showcasing a playful, and vibrant disposition.
In harmony with the brand’s rebellious attitude, the cheeky bunny motifs in bold green and complimentary pink tones, emblazon the classic Visetos monogram in Cognac, alongside design elements of bold brush stroke arrows that venerate the collection’s upcycled approach. The lineup highlights a versatile range from handsfree silhouettes to covetable collectables that can be carried on the daily such as the brand’s signature studded backpack, a shopper and unisex messenger while SLGs come in travel wallets, billfolds and coin purses for fashion aficionados on-the-go.
1. Lunar New Year Tracy Crossbody in Visetos
In the style of graffiti artwork, Kaiser — a street-smart spin on the classic MCM hare — commemorates the Year of the Rabbit atop this medium-sized crossbody wallet.
Longchamp
To celebrate the year of the rabbit for Chinese New Year 2023, Longchamp revisits its iconic Pliage with a whimsical twist. In this limited version, the hawthorn nylon either becomes the canvas for an all-over humoristic print representing the generosity of the rabbit, or is adorned with a skilfull rabbit head leather badge holding a Pliage bag.
1. Le Pliage CNY
