From Armani’s Samsung and Versace’s Nokia to the iPhone-inspired LG Prada – the best designer smartphones in history
Not allowed to leave the house? Keep good digital company with new designer smartphones including Thom Browne’s Samsung and Alexander Wang’s Vivo – and check these vintage collabs between Armani and Samsung, Prada and LG, and more
Fashion houses turned their hand to designing smartphones some time ago, and the results have been promising. Designer smartphones now count as quarantine companions and a great device for working from home during the coronavirus outbreak, and are a new way to “dress up” when you’re not allowed to leave the house.
From recent news of an updated flip phone, to old mobile phones worthy of being called collectors’ items, we look back at great collaborations between the world of fashion and mobile tech.
Thom Browne and Samsung
The flip phone is back and more stylish than ever. American designer Thom Browne, known for his sleek suits and precise tailoring, has partnered with South Korean tech giant Samsung to resurrect the foldable mobile device many of us remember fondly.
Launched at New York Fashion Week in February, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition was introduced via a live presentation and an interactive event that allowed guests to see, touch and experience the phone.
The statement flip phone comes in a classic grey colour and sports the brand’s signature tricolour stripe. Its interface reveals app icons written in classic fonts. The Thom Browne phone comes with an analogue ringtone reminiscent of the good old days. It’s available with a smart watch and wireless Samsung headphones.
Alexander Wang and Vivo
Followers of the Wang squad have a new item to add to their must-buy list, after the New York-based Chinese fashion designer released a mobile phone designed in collaboration with Chinese phone maker, Vivo.
The Vivo X30 Pro Alexander Wang is a limited-edition 5G phone, an upgrade on the Vivo X30 Pro that was launched late last year. True to Wang’s cool, utilitarian style, often described as M.O.D. or model off duty, the designer gadget boasts a white mirror back cover and an engraved branding that says “vivo alexanderwang”.
Prada and LG