In collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, American fashion designer Heron Preston has unveiled a capsule collection that pays homage to the airbag by using recycled airbag materials and repurposed materials from the automobile manufacturer.
The conceptual looks commemorate the 50th anniversary of the airbag and the 40th anniversary of the use of the life-saving feature in Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, while also pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability in fashion design. The airbag was invented in 1958 and first used in the passenger car in 1974.
The capsule collection inspired by the airbag includes three “forward-thinking” menswear and womenswear styles that are made from recycled airbag materials and repurposed pieces from Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles. Because of the collection’s capacity to both inflate and deflate, the functionality of the airbag is reflected in the design.
On top of that, Preston has created special goods, which will be made available through a giveaway on the re-sell site Goat starting on September 10.
Mercedes-Benz joins together with Heron Preston to commemorate the introduction of the airbag.
Mercedes-Benz and Heron Preston both have a shared objective of decreasing our influence on the environment, which served as the beginning point for the cooperation, according to a statement from Heron Preston.
In fact, upcycling and celebrating sustainability have been two of my earliest approaches to design since launching my collection, and I enjoyed lensing an anniversary celebration of the airbags in this way to create a beautiful collection from recovered materials alongside some of their most advanced fleet of fuel-efficient and electric vehicles.” Given that Mercedes-Benz is an iconic brand with such a strong grasp on culture – and given that I am interested in culture and someone who influences it – the relationship seemed both thrilling and natural to me.”
“At Mercedes-Benz, we are extremely proud of our unique, worldwide fashion engagement, which has built a strong connection with the industry since 1995,” Bettina Fetzer, vice president of communications and marketing at Mercedes-Benz AG, noted. The opportunity to collaborate with co-creators in this sector who share our beliefs allows us to further advance sustainable luxury design into the future. Heron’s distinct perspective on sustainability, as well as the way he tackles the issue via the prism of culture, makes him an exceptional partner with whom to collaborate on this project, as described below.
“The Airbag concept collection is inspired by two anniversaries of life-saving technological innovation: the Airbag patent was granted 50 years ago and the first serial introduction of the Airbag into our flagship vehicle, the S-Class, was made in 1981,” says the designer. According to our beliefs, collaboration and co-creation provide unforgettable and distinctive events associated with our brand.”
Preston’s concept collection will be shown with the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, S-Class Plug-in-Hybrid, a cutaway model, the 500 SEL (W126), and the new full-electric EQS in a series of photos and films filmed by Thibaut Grevet to coincide with the introduction.
The company also announced that it will be continuing the idea of upcycling and sustainability by reusing the shoot’s inflatable set into an installation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, which will take place from September 6 to August 8 this year.