German marque BMW and American lifestyle brand Kith have united for the second time, creating a multifaceted experiential collaboration. With this year marking the 50th anniversary of the launch of BMW M as well as the debut of the marque’s first electric concept car, Kith founder Ronnie Fieg pays tribute to both milestones. The collaboration comprises two BMW vehicles, one vintage and one modern, which receive the Kith treatment, and an apparel and accessories collection created by Kith for BMW.
The first electric BMW concept car debuted in 1972 to celebrate the Olympic Games in Munich. The car, a BMW 1602 converted with an electric battery, was used at various long-distance competitions as an accompanying and camera car by the Olympic Games committee and represented the beginning of the German marque’s electric journey. Fortuitously, amongst Ronnie Fieg’s impressive collection of BMWs sat a BMW 1602. The Kith founder worked with BMW to completely rebuild and redesign the vehicle, converting it into a fully electric vehicle with bespoke details. The iconic BMW quadrant roundel is swapped out for a collaborative rendition that sees ‘KITH’ replace the BMW wordmark, while the interior is dressed in luxurious camel-coloured merino leather embossed with an all-over Kith monogram.
The defining colour that runs through both the automotive and sartorial collaboration is a custom shade titled ‘Kith Vitality Green’. The bespoke hue was created with the notion of electromobility in mind, with the word vitality defined as “the power-giving continuance of life, present in all living things,” which speaks to the narrative presented by both brands. The dark green hue subtly shifts colour depending on the light. Not for sale, the collaborative one-of-one 1972 BMW 1602 Elektro by Ronnie Fieg will be presented to BMW.
Where the 1972 BMW 1602 Elektro by Ronnie Fieg salutes the past, the 2022 BMW i4 M50 by Kith bridges the gap to the present. The first fully electric BMW M model, the vehicle combines the power of BMW M and BMW i with a fully electric powertrain fed by two BMW M eDrive motors. The resultant car is able to travel from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and has a range of 519km.
Continuing the design language proposed in the BMW 1602 Elektro by Ronnie Fieg, the 2022 BMW i4 M50 by Kith is clad in the same shade of Vitality Green and adds a tri-tone green ring to the hood roundel that lists the partnership, model, and year as well as the car’s electric credentials. The rear decklid also sports the kith Motorsport logo in black, a nod to the BMW M logo. The same green-on-tan colour scheme continues in the i4 M50, with the interiors decked in merino leather in caramel, seen on the knee bolster, steering column, seats and side panelling, the A and B posts, as well as the trimming on the front and rear floor mats. The Kith monogram appears on the headrests of the front seat and front centre armrest, while the lid of the cup holder is laser-engraved with a collaborative logo and ‘Elektro-Auto’ wordmark. ‘Kith Exclusive Edition’ appears on the trim above the glove box.
Just seven examples of the collaborative BMW i4 M50 by Kith will be produced for the public, with one auctioned off a Sotheby’s from 7th October.
While the automotive element of the collaboration may be a touch difficult to get your hands on, the 51-piece apparel and accessories collection serves as a pretty good consolation prize. The collection adopts a similar design approach as seen on both vehicles, with the green and caramel brown colour palette remaining a mainstay throughout. The apparel unites Kith’s staple silhouettes with BMW’s iconography. Styles include Italian leather and Manteco wool outerwear, double-wear coaches jackets, several knitwear and sweatshirt styles, and an array of graphic hoodies and tees. Accessories also take on an automotive tone, with leather keychains, car plates, sunglasses, and duffle bags among the offering.
Showcasing Fieg’s unparalleled ability to identify and enlist non-contrived star power, the apparel and accessories collection is modelled by American actor Edward Norton. The Golden Globe winner poses alongside both cars in a campaign shot in Munich, Germany — the home of BMW.
Words by John Deckard
