Kith and BMW have teamed up again, and this time the two are calling on Sotheby’s.
For the second partnership, the two are working with Sotheby’s to auction Kith’s new 2022 BMW i4 M50, which was designed by retailer and apparel brand founder Ronnie Fieg. Kith confirmed that only seven of these cars will be produced for the public and that this is the only vehicle from this collaboration that is being auctioned off to a global audience.
The auction, according to Kith, will open via Sothebys.com/KithforBMW on October 7 at 11 a.m. ET with a starting bid of $1 and close at 2 p.m. ET on October 14.
People will be able to bid globally, Kith said in a statement, although some countries are excluded due to shipping and manufacturing restrictions. Additionally, Kith confirmed that 10% of auction proceeds will be donated to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, which aims to protect East Africa’s ecosystems and biodiversity through conservation for the benefit of Maasai communities. local.
In addition to the BMW i4 M50 by Kith in 2023, winners will receive one of each item in the Kith for BMW 2022 collection. This range includes 51 styles of apparel and accessories, with mid-size items. There will also be an assortment of 1-on-1 merchandise – like a Wilson Pro Staff 97 collaborative surfboard, snowboard and racket – that will never be sold publicly and were made exclusively for the auction to commemorate this partnership.
The auction items will be offered with an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000, according to Kith, but will be sold without reserve.
Ronnie Fieg’s (L) 1972 BMW 1602 Elektro and Kith’s 2022 BMW i4 M50. CREDIT: Courtesy of Kith
Kith explained in a statement that BMW celebrated the 1972 Munich Olympics by converting two 1602s into electric cars, which was the company’s first foray into electromobility. Fifty years later, Kith said he’s celebrating the milestone not only with Kith’s aforementioned 2022 BMW i4 M50, but also with a complete rebuild and redesign of Fieg’s personal 1602, which includes converting it to a fully electric.
The aesthetic details of Fieg’s personal 1602, according to Kith, include a collaborative interpretation of the BMW roundel that replaces “BMW” with “Kith”. It can be seen on the bonnet, the rear trunk lid and the rims. Additionally, the interior is now finished in caramel-colored full-grain merino leather with an embossed Kith monogram pattern all over. And the paint color is a custom green, dubbed “Vitality Green by Kith,” which was developed for this partnership.
The tint, according to Kith, will never be offered again.
As for the 2022 BMW i4 M50 from Kith, the retailer explained that it is the first fully electric BMW M model and that it is equipped with a powertrain powered by two BMW M eDrive motors that can reach 544 hp in Sport Boost mode, which goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Additionally, Kith said it is locally emission-free and has a range of up to 323 miles according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test.
Aesthetically, the Kith version sees changes that are a continuation of the design language seen on the 1602 by Fieg. For example, the exterior is painted Vitality Green, and the bonnet roundel features an added green tri-color outer ring that lists the partnership, model, year and a nod to the fact that it is. is an electric car. Additionally, the rear trunk lid features the Kith Motorsport logo in black, which is a nod to the BMW M logo, much of the interior is in caramel-coloured full-grain merino leather and a Kith monogram motif recessed is visible on the head restraints of the front seats and front center armrest. Finally, the cupholder lid is laser-etched with a collaborative logo and “Elektro-Auto” wordmark, and “Kith Exclusive Edition” is found on the glove box trim.
Ronnie Fieg’s (L) 1972 BMW 1602 Elektro and Kith’s 2022 BMW i4 M50. CREDIT: Courtesy of Kith
Additionally, Kith created apparel and accessories with a similar design approach to the cars, particularly the green and caramel brown color scheme used for the 51-piece assortment.
The garment, Kith said, combines its “basic silhouettes and custom-milled fabrics with updated interpretations of classic BMW iconography.” This includes Italian leather and Manteco wool outerwear, double-weave coach jackets and pants, various knit styles, heavyweight fleece tracksuits, and graphic hoodies and tees. Accessories include car-related items such as leather key rings, microfiber towels, car plates and canteens, as well as several lifestyle and home items including umbrellas, sunglasses sunglasses, leather sports bags, headwear, table tops, rugs, pins, pillows, glasses, snowboards and a candle created with DS & Durga.
The Kith for BMW Chapter 2 collection will first release exclusively at Kith Paris on September 30, with a global launch on October 7 at all Kith stores. Additionally, online delivery will take place on October 7 at 11 a.m. ET via Kith.com and 11 a.m. CET on EU.Kith.com.
Kith’s partnership with BMW was revealed to the world in October 2020. That month, the brand announced that it would launch the Kith for BMW collection, which included 94 styles of apparel and accessories. At the time, it was Kith’s biggest offering to date.
