It’s common practice to ask new Lululemon team members what their favorite way to sweat is, according to global creative director Jonathan Cheung. So, naturally, when the brand started discussing a collaboration with Ganni, Cheung asked Ganni’s creative director Ditte Reffstrup about her favorite workout. She replied, “Dancing,” and so the story begins.
Today, the two brands announced their co-designed collection, which takes heavy inspiration from ’80s dancing culture. “Dance has always been a big part of my life,” says Reffstrup, who grew up in a family of dancers. “Very early on, [my dad] taught us that dance is such a joy. He taught me that when you go to a party, if you’re a good guest, you should always be the one to open the dance floor.”
The 22-piece collection is a true fusion of the two brands, melding Lululemon’s performance-based technology with Ganni’s Scandi-cool flair. “I think there’s a lot of commonality between a Ganni girl and a Lulu girl,” Cheung says. “I see Ganni girls, and they’re doing yoga, they’re doing Pilates, they’re having green juices.” Even I must admit, the Ganni girl is exactly the type to be the first on the dance floor at any given party.
The collection pairs Ganni signatures like ruffled edges and leopard print with Lululemon’s proprietary fabrics, including its Nulu and Softstreme lines. “I’m so overwhelmed with the innovation behind their fabrics,” Reffstrup says of the Lululemon team. “The dedication to creating the best performative product was very surprising and super exciting to our team. I have a deep respect for what they’re doing.”
As for the Lululemon side, Cheung says he was eager to find a way to work with the Copenhagen-based brand. “Our design mantra here is ‘High performance, high style.’ If we’re looking for high style, there can be no better partner than Ditte [Reffstrup] and Ganni,” he says. “I think it’s very clear if you pick up any of the pieces, you see that mix of DNA. And they’re all highly functional, so you can literally dance the night away.”
Dance influences come through in the form of boleros and leg warmers, as well as in the short film that accompanies the campaign, which features Flashdance star Jennifer Beals and pop artist Mette.
While the announcement dropped today, the collection isn’t available until October 15. Bookmark this page and come back then to shop Ganni x Lululemon.
