Fashion, Jewelry, and Sneaker Designer Yoon Ambush Takes on Champagne
One half of Tokyo-based streetwear brand Ambush and the artistic director of jewelry for Dior Men, Yoon Ambush is used to outfitting the fashion sect with must-haves that blend innovation with relevant edge. But the latest project from the designer who has collaborated with the likes of Nike, Converse, and Bulgari is different—even for her. Just announced, Abush is the newest creative to work with Moët & Chandon on reinterpeting the champagne house's iconic bottles of bubbly. Following the likes of Marcelo Burlon, Public School, and Virgil Abloh, the collaboration marks the first time a female artist has been such creative freedom, and Ambush did not hold back. Here, the designer speaks to L'OFFICIEL about bringing her disruptive charm to Moët's Imperial and Nectar Imperial Rose bottles, visiting Epernay, France–home to the champagne maison—and the World Land Trust, a natural habitats conservatory that will receive a portion of the limited edition bottles' profits.
L'OFFICIEL: What does champagne represent for you?
YOON AMBUSH: Champagne has always been about celebration for me! My first memory of sipping Moët & Chandon was with my friends right after college. We had just gotten our first jobs, and we felt like it was the right moment to pop champagne and celebrate.
L'O: Were you surprised about anything you learned throughout the collaboration?
YA: This collaboration opened my eyes to a new world. I was curious to learn more about Moët & Chandon and its champagne-making heritage and while I was visiting the teams in Epernay [France]. I was impressed by their unique craftsmanship and how this savoir-faire continues to be passed down from generation to generation. How those traditions have managed to survive for centuries to build a rare heritage is truly exceptional. I also observed Moët & Chandon’s great respect for nature and for time, in the way their winegrowers work the land and care patiently for the vines while the grapes mature, and in the way that winemakers take their time to produce the champagne.
L'O: What about the World Land Trust is so special to you?
YA: On my visit to Epernay, I saw the devotion of the people at Moët & Chandon to nature and to their precious terroir. This inspired me to select the World Land Trust, an international conservation charity that protects threatened natural habitats, to receive the support of the House, so that together we could help preserve other terroirs around the world. Moët & Chandon will donate a portion of profits from the sale of our Ambush limited-edition bottles to preserve the Canandé Reserve in the Ecuadorian Chocó, one of the world’s most threatened tropical forests and a place as biodiverse as the Amazon rainforest. The support from our collaboration will have a direct impact on stopping the deforestation of the Chocó, not just for the sake of its fragile species, but also to combat one of the causes of climate change. While I was not surprised by Moët & Chandon’s choice to support a noble cause, I was surprised and honored that the task of selecting the charitable cause was given to me. This is both a great responsibility and a strong statement of support for my choice and my integrity. Preserving this planet and the natural habitat for all species are very important considerations for today’s young generation, and I am very grateful that Moët & Chandon accepted my choice and generously offered its full support.
Moet x Ambush Moet Imperial and Nectar Imperial Rose are available online now.
