Fashion meets Esports: Mercedes-Benz and SK Gaming present limited Capsule Collection with Saul Nash

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Performance, modern technology and passion – that’s what successful athletes, gamers and #automotive enthusiasts have in common. The limited capsule collection consists of a jacket and a long‑sleeved T-shirt that combines the functional demands of everyday sportswear with fashionable style. Accompanying the start of the order, a social media campaign visualizes the interaction of these topics. In the photos and in the short videos, the electric drive technology of the Mercedes-Benz EQE and the sporty performance of dancers and members of #skgaming form an expressive symbiosis.

Saul Nash is a #fashion designer, movement director and choreographer who studied performance design and menswear design. He combines this background in his own label, founded in 2018, by breaking down the boundaries between menswear and sportswear. His creations are fluid in design, combining trends with the functionality of sportswear, and offering #fashion created for a modern, active everyday life. This innovative approach, has led Saul to receive several awards as a design talent, including the Queen Elisabeth II Award for British Design as National Designer of the Year in the UK.

The reversible black sports jacket conceals an eye-catching lilac-blue mesh pattern made from recycled polyester on the inside and with hues from the #skgaming team colour scheme. The #mercedesbenz and SK Gaming logos are embroidered on the chest in contrasting colours, while the black nylon side also bears the brand logos of both partners on the back.

This is complimented by a long-sleeved black compression shirt also made from recycled polyester and Lycra for an optimal body-hugging fit, incorporating coloured mesh inserts on the sides and inside of the sleeves in the same colourway as the inside of the jacket. The shirt likewise bears the brand logos of both partners, #mercedesbenz and #skgaming, on the chest. Design details including the thumb loops, a half-zip on the high‑closing collar and an extended back emphasise the sporty functionality of the collection.

"Our heartfelt congratulations go to our partner #skgaming on the 25th anniversary. Every collaboration gains from new impulses, and we are all the more pleased that together with Saul Nash, we have succeeded in creating a new connection between the worlds of #fashion and Esports. With this exclusive collection, we want to appeal not only to Esports enthusiasts, but also to our customers and fans who value an active lifestyle that is functional in everyday life while exuding a modern look."
Julia Hofmann, Head of Brand Collaborations and Branded Entertainment #mercedesbenz AG

“It is an honour to be partnering with #mercedesbenz and #skgaming, to celebrate the Esports team’s 25^th anniversary. This project was an exciting space to explore three worlds that at first instance may not fit together. But the beauty of gaming is that anything is possible as there are infinite possibilities. It was inspiring to create garments through the lens of Esports, marrying this with the sleek design and exquisite heritage of #mercedesbenz, whilst envisioning this in the world of movement that I’m grounded in. With performance wear grounded so much in movement, the question was how we could bring gaming which is often a static sport to life through movement.”
Saul Nash, Designer, Movement Director and Choreographer

"On the occasion of SK Gaming's 25th anniversary, we wanted to give our community and ourselves a very special gift. That's why, together with our partner Mercedes-Benz and designer Saul Nash, we have created a #fashion Capsule Collection whose forward-looking and performance-oriented look expresses SK Gaming's identity as the world's most storied Esports team."
Alexander Müller, CEO SK Gaming

The start of ordering of the two-piece collection on November 30, 2022 will be accompanied by a campaign on the Mercedes-Benz social media channels. It stages theme worlds of both partners, such as movement, performance and design. The campaign features dancers and content creator Georgia "Troubleinc" Paraskevopoulou, Lukas "Mango" Schändel and Niklas "NiklasNeo" Noerenberg from #skgaming as well as the Mercedes-Benz EQE. In a choreography created by Saul Nash himself, the campaign addresses the functionality of the collection pieces and plays with the personalities of the protagonists. The photos were taken by US photographer Justin French, the videos by Quyen Mike, who works as “qmike” as a content creator and model. Isabel + Helen are responsible for the set design.

Mercedes-Benz and #skgaming - partners since 2019
In 2019, #mercedesbenz was the first car manufacturer to invest in an Esports team. In addition to the logo presence, the cooperation with #skgaming also includes joint projects as well as a mutual transfer of know-how, and goes beyond a mere sponsoring #partnership. The #partnership with #skgaming has a lasting influence on the perception of #mercedesbenz as an organic part of the Esports community, and underlines the authenticity of the brand's overall Esports commitment.

The global #fashion engagement of Mercedes-Benz
Since 1995 #mercedesbenz has established itself as a major player in the worldwide #fashion industry. The company has built authentic relationships in the #fashion world, and uses its initiatives to support emerging design talent, innovative collaborations, #fashion week partnerships and live events.