Putting Perfection: Jimmy Choo and Malbon Golf Bring Glamor to the Green
A collaboration between exclusive sportswear and high-fashion
Unveiling a highly unlikely pairing, London’s Jimmy Choo healmed by creative director Sandra Choi, takes a swing into the sports world through its latest collaboration with Malbon Golf. The collaborative collection includes a monogrammed golf bag, a rangefinder case, club head covers, shoe bags and a line of sleek sneakers and slippers for men and women. “This is our first sports-focused collaboration and it has been a fascinating education, respecting the performance elements and function whilst blending our design codes. Lifestyle versus fashion adds a new dimension. Being in the great outdoors changes the scenery for sure. Green carpet versus the red”, said Choi in an interview with WWD.
The footwear collection is presented in an array of pastel pinks and blues alongside cream and black with gold branding accents and diamond indented soles . The simplistic leather is ornamented by the subtle accents of color and the intentionally sporty design of the sole. One pair boasts a bit more glamor through its bejeweled exterior and steeper price tag. The ‘Jimmy Choo/ Malbon Diamond Golf’ style, with its peachy-pink studded leather is priced at $1725. The five other pairs of classic sneakers sit at the price point of $795. In terms of materiality, the slippers offered at the end of the line are the most intriguing, crafted with a monogrammed denim canvas and hosting the redesigned collaborative logo: Malbon’s golf ball wearing a Jimmy Choo Bucket hat. Very cute and kitschy. These slippers are destined to be the newest status symbol within the country club locker room.
Other items offered through the accessories range include bucket hats, baseball caps, sweat towels and miniature zip pouches as the shape of the new partnership’s logo image. The image definitely feels youthful and invites popularity amongst the younger and more stylishly inclined golfing audience. In terms of explicit golfing equipment, the collection provides a chicly structural denim golf bag ($4450), an array of club head covers and shoe bags. This is the perfect opportunity to create a personal collection where your matching shoe bag is just as expensive as the cleats it carries.
Choi continued with WWD sharing the conceptual intricacies which birthed the luxuriously sporty intersection, “I love to surprise people with our collaborations, unexpected pairings that underscore shared values and expertise. To be fair, golfing does require special shoes for the sport, and that was a good starting point”. Malbon has a long list of prior collaborations on their resume, primarily with other prominent sport apparel brands, but this is their first venture into the luxury arena. Their typical golf shoe outside of the collaboration begins at $140 and appears to climb up to $300. These traditional styles have no true notable design features outside of functionality, and will likely remain the desired option for the players who can't be bothered by excessive ornamentation or the thought of positioning fashion alongside sport.
Golfing as both a sport and a casual activity seems to primarily tailor to a wealthier audience or clientele, proving this collaboration to be perfectly positioned for success. The higher tax brackets of America place strong values around appearance, so why wouldn't you want to show up to the Putting Green in a pair of Jimmy Choo’s? Fusing trusted functionality and the look of tailored luxury is a genius endeavor when more Americans are playing golf than ever before, as per a 2023 PGA Tour report. Spotlighted by the continued attention, praise, and criticism surrounding sporting events and the fashion choices of their players, collaborations between sportswear brands and luxury houses are poised for prosperity due to their popularity and profitability.
