LONGCHAMP X NENDO A “!” MOMENT AROUND LE PLIAGE®

When Philippe Cassegrain created Le Pliage® by Longchamp back in 1993, he was inspired by the ancient Japanese art of origami. Now a new collaboration, initiated by the next generation of Longchamp’s founding family, brings the iconic foldable bag full circle, as it is reinterpreted by the Tokyo-based design studio nendo.

Nendo, which was founded in 2002 by Oki Sato, aims to create designs that generate what it calls “!” moments in everyday life. Its philosophy is based on reshaping everyday objects to make us look at them afresh, thus enriching our daily lives and experience. This ethos is clearly demonstrated by its intriguing reinterpretations of Le Pliage®, which reveal this instantly recognizable object in an entirely new light.

While the classic Le Pliage® offers two distinct experiences – one when it is carried as a bag, the other when it is folded away – nendo’s designs introduce a third experience, reimagining the bags as functional, aesthetically pleasing storage objects to be placed around the home.

There are three variations on the theme, all exquisitely simple in shape and sophisticated in execution. The first is a bag which – thanks to a removable, foldable stiffener – transforms not only into a cube that can be used for storage or transport, but also into a sturdy and spacious wide-bottomed holdall. The second is a coneshaped bag with a single handle by which it can be either carried or hung from a hook or rail. Its leather top – referencing the signature flap of Le Pliage® – opens easily to allow objects to be put in or taken out. The third is a circular bag inspired by traditional furoshiki folding cloths, which were widely used in Japan to carry objects before the popularization of Western-style bags. Like the furoshiki, it adapts to whatever it carries, resulting in total flexibility of function.

“What I appreciated about nendo was their absolute respect for the codes of Le

Pliage®,” enthuses Longchamp Creative Director Sophie Delafontaine. “They wanted to retain the DNA of the original product – the nylon, the Russian leather, the flap and the foldability, but with an entirely new twist.”

The cone and circle bags come in two sizes, and the cube bag in three, in a palette of six shades which Sophie Delafontaine describes as “coloured neutrals”. Options including pale grey, dark blue, mustard and burgundy, with white or black trim, strike an elegant balance between nendo’s predominantly monochrome aesthetic and the paint-box brights of Le Pliage®. The cone bag is also available as a limited edition in supple black lambskin, which nods to the classic Le Pliage® Cuir.

For Longchamp CEO Jean Cassegrain, the collaboration between nendo and Longchamp was a natural one. “Oki Sato and his team create “!” moments by focusing on the essential and eschewing artifice,” he says. “Similarly, Le Pliage® is an iconic product with great simplicity of form. We therefore thought it would be very stimulating to ask nendo to envision a new interpretation. The result is perfectly precise, and this collaboration will stand as a landmark for the House.”

Contemporary luxury, creativity and dynamism are at the heart of Longchamp style.

Since 1948, Longchamp, leather-sheathed pipe manufacturer, has expanded its savoir-faire to include travel accessories and handbags. Today, Creative Director, Sophie Delafontaine perpetuates this heritage and develops her vision of luxury for the contemporary consumer. With its ambassador, Kendall Jenner, Longchamp reinvents French elegance every season and offers ready-to-wear collections, bags, accessories, shoes, eyewear, luggage as well as a collection for men.

Preserving its independent family origins, Longchamp is still owned and managed by the Cassegrain family. Today, the brand has more than 300 stores in 80 countries.

Longchamp is available in Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangrila, Rustan’s Cebu and Greenbelt 5.

The 2019 Formula V1 Season Is Officially Open! 

Last May 8, the Manila Polo Club was the place to be for many of the fastest drivers in the country as Tuason Racing officially launched the 2019 Giti-Formula V1 Challenge.  A trio of V1 cars were parked overlooking the Polo Club’s lush green field as host Issa Litton greeted the crowd of drivers, team owners, sponsors, celebrity guests, and media.

Now in its second year, the homegrown single-seater race program has developed one of the biggest racing grids in the country as well as established itself as the highest form of racing available in the Philippines. Formula V1 has also solved the problem of motorsports sustainability by localizing the car–a collaboration between Tuason Racing and West Racing Cars Japan–for cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance.

Coinciding with Tuason Racing’s celebration of 20 years in the business, the 2019 season is the continuing realization of JP Tuason’s dream. The CEO and founder shared that “when I was racing professionally a couple years back, I was lucky enough to be part of a racing generation that experienced the pinnacle of Philippine motorsports. I started with karting, graduated to circuit cars and was given a chance to race formula Toyotas locally and level up to compete in Formula 3 internationally. I have seen talents such as Michelle Bumgarner and Marlon Stockinger who not only dreamed of being in F1 but did so with a fighting chance of getting in.”

“Sadly due to uncontrollable events, motorsports took a step back. But lets stop looking at the past and move forward to the future–and it is bright.”

“With the growth of grassroots motorsports spearheaded by Toyota’s Vios Cup One Make Race program, racing is coming back with a vengeance. We at Tuason Racing in our long years in the motorsports business have always believed that Filipinos are made for racing, given the right opportunities and training, we can be a major player in any grid around the world. So when the this opportunity crossed our paths three years ago, we believed that this is the next important step in rebuilding Philippine motorsports and making Filipino Global Racing Champions.”

Formula V1’s key sponsors then took to the stage, GT Radial Philippines Director for Sales & Marketing Mr. Mannix Ocampo, wished the assembled racers well for the incoming season. “It has been our great pleasure to be part of the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge. Giti’s presence in the global motorsports stage has been an important part of our growth as a performance tire for higher racing disciplines. We wish you luck this season and may you have a safe and exciting race!”

Finally, Phoenix Pulse completed the 2019 grid by unveiling the winner of their

Young Drivers Program–Raffy Rabe, a 20-year old F.O.R.S. champion, will be taking the drivers seat for the Phoenix Racing Team.

The next time these drivers all assemble again would be on May 18 at Batangas Racing Circuit for Round 1, and Clark International Speedway for Rounds 2 and 3. See you there!