In celebration of the beginning of the European winter season, Creative Director Rhuigi Villaseor presents Bally Curling, his first capsule for AW22.
The curling sport, originally introduced by Scots to Switzerland in the late 19th century, became a favorite winter pastime for both men and women and since its debut at Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956, the Bally Curling Boot has become an icon, gracing the feet of the Swiss Olympic team.
The capsule includes reinventions of the curling shoe as part of a fully-fledged ready-to-wear and accessories vision inspired by the visual clash of Swiss alpine tradition with both cowboy and varsity code for men and women.
It features mix and match ensembles fusing Western detailing with nostalgic mountaineering motifs, from cashmere to shearling to suede, crafted in a palettes ranging from earthy autumnal shades to icy pastels perfect for romping through the winter sun in an après-ski atmosphere.
As part of Bally‘s partnership with St. Moritz brand, Swiss-inspired collegiate prints and embroideries are laced with archival BALLY graphics. Shearling-trimmed denim and Western quilted outerwear express Villaseor’s tongue-in-cheek style.
In a playful twist, Villasenor combines the tenets of the winter sport with playful spirit of the American West creating a new transatlantic dialogue on decoration and materiality and encapsulates “Curl Curl Baby” in an irreverent short film based on the curling battle of two opposing teams, captures the capsule’s luxurious, graphic spirit amid the arresting scenery of St. Moritz.
In addition to footwear, the collection also includes bold accessories line pf playful hybrid, from cowboy hats in shearling and baseball caps in soft wool and suede to pom pom beanies and plush “Switzerland” football scarves, all engineered with Ballycraftsmanship for the streets and the slopes in equal measure.
The Curling is set to launch mid-November at selected Bally boutiques worldwide which include New York and Zurich, and multi-brand stores including Kith, The Webster and Selfridges. Dedicated winter pop-up stores across alpine destinations include St. Moritz, Verbier and Aspen.
