Bringing two brands together in a thoughtful and creative way is the aim of any collaboration. When those brands are at the top of their respective fields, the end results had better be pretty special. In its new collaboration with Berluti, the esteemed French leathermaker, Bang & Olufsen has been able to push the boundaries of its already impressive materiality, while still preserving the tonal brilliance that has defined the brand since it was established by Svend Olufsen and Peter Bang in 1925. As the nascent B&O was rolling out its first wireless sets, Alessandro Berluti’s company had just entered its third decade. Now part of LVMH, Berluti is headquartered in Paris but still retains manufacturing in northern Italy, specialising in exquisitely hand-tooled leatherwork.
The new collection of six limited-edition products encompasses the whole suite of Bang & Olufsen’s current line-up, from small to large. The collection starts with the Beoplay H95 Berluti Edition, which transforms B&O’s first pair of wireless headphones into a luxurious object with a Venezia leather headband, embossed with the Maison Berluti logo. The H95s also fit into the special ‘Berluti Sound Pouch,’ a bespoke item made from the company’s Signature Canvas that will also hold the second-generation version of the Beosound A1 portable Bluetooth speaker, here shown in its special Berluti edition with dark brown calf leather cord and engraved aluminium. Offering up to 18 hours of battery life, the A1 is a superior piece of portable technology.
The collaboration reaches its acme with the Berluti edition versions of the Beosound Balance, Beovision Harmony and Beolab90. The former is the company’s acclaimed home speaker system, designed by Benjamin Hubert of Layer Design and fully integrated with Google Assistant and online streaming services. Berluti have given the elegant cylindrical form a new tactile surface with a hand-patinated brown leather base. The Balance can be paired with the Beovision Harmony, Bang & Olufsen’s flagship 77-inch 4K television. Incorporating a motorised floor stand, the Harmony is designed to fold down and become more discrete when not in use; the addition of Berluti leather panels enhances the TV’s sculptural qualities.
The star of the collaboration is the Beolab 90, Bang & Olufsen’s flagship speaker, an 8,200-watt titan that automatically adapts itself to the dimensions and acoustics of its surroundings and uses its faceted, angular form to disperse sound with power and precision. Patinated Venezia leather adds another dimension of handcraft to this bespoke piece of audio equipment. ‘Together with Berluti, we’ve brought the best of artisanship to the fore with our expertise in sound and design, and Berluti’s knowledge in leather craftsmanship,’ says Christoffer Poulsen, B&O’s SVP of Product, ‘the result is a truly remarkable collection.’ §