Final Fantasy is no stranger to odd collaborations throughout its 16 mainline games, the occasional sequels, and countless spin-offs. We’ve seen collaborations throughout the series, including Kingdom Hearts, DOTA 2, Life is Strange, and even Coca-Cola and Nissin Cup Noodles. One collaboration that caught my attention recently was the collaboration between the Final Fantasy XIII series and fashion labels Prada and Louis Vuitton.
FINAL FANTASY XIII X PRADA
It’s April 2012. Final Fantasy XIII-2 launched just a few months prior. Lightning, alongside Noel Kreiss, Sazh Katzroy, Snow Villiers, and Hope Estheim, modelled the Spring/Summer collection menswear for Prada in an issue of Arena Homme+ magazine.
“I’ve always been interested by the power of video games and their place in society, and the amount of work that’s gone into this project blows my mind. We’re incredibly pleased with the result,” Max Pearmain, Editor of Arena Homme+ said at the time.
Yoshinori Kitase, producer of Final Fantasy XIII-2 commented on the collaboration saying, “The Final Fantasy series is known for its creativity and innovation; so working with Prada, a renowned fashion house with such beautiful clothing, was a very exciting opportunity. The images we have been able to create together are vibrant and unique.”
LIGHTNING X LOUIS VUITTON
Four years later, in 2016, two years after Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was released, Lightning collaborated with Louis Vuitton, modelling the Spring/Summer collection of that year. Lightning appeared as the face of Louis Vuitton during the campaign and was even interviewed by Olivia Lidbury for The Telegraph.
Square Enix made a statement on the collaboration, saying, “The collaboration embodies the two companies’ shared values of preserving traditions while seeking new and revolutionary ideas to deliver quality products.”
“It’s clear that the virtual aesthetic of video games is predominant in this collection. If we push the reflection about heroines, or what might constitute the nature of a woman whose actions can be so courageous that she becomes superior and iconic, it becomes obvious that a virtual entity integrates with the founding principles of the Maison. Lightning is the perfect avatar for a global, heroic woman and for a world where social networks and communications are now seamlessly woven into our life. She is also the symbol of new pictorial processes. How can you create an image that goes beyond the classic principles of photography and design? Lightning heralds a new era of expression.”
– Nicolas Ghesquière, Louis Vuitton’s Artistic Director of Women’s Collections
Testsuya Nomura, designer of Final Fantasy XIII’s Lightning commented at the time, “The stunning new look of Lightning including her poses and character in action was fully produced by Louis Vuitton. Additionally, thanks to the Visual Works team, they were able to produce brilliant work under a tight schedule. This collaboration is not just a promotion of a game, and it is a great honor that the character herself received an offer from a world famous brand. As a result of this collaboration, this has infused new breath into the character, Lightning.”
