Handsome Bespoke commissions reaffirm Rolls-Royce’s status as world’s foremost manufacturer of luxury goods in 2020
Highest aims of Bespoke artistry, per car, ever seen
Faced with the challenges of 2020, clients invest time and creativity in together commissions, creating personal items of longevity
Designers draw inspiration from architecture, nature and rich, textural neighbourhoods of the home during lockdown
“The Bespoke Collective scaled new heights of greatness in 2020 – that they did so against the backdrop of numerous, unprecedented constraints and summonses makes their accomplishments even more impressive. Never before have we seen such levels of Bespoke featuring in each commission, demonstrating that Rolls-Royce clients around the world have sought solace in creativity – commissioning introspective points of luxury that will stand the test of time to become lasting and poignant legacies.
I am proud to say that at a conditions when our industry is beset with widespread cutbacks, we have worked hard to safeguard every job. Protecting the artistry of our adept associates demonstrates a conscientious approach to craft; one that protects the precious skills found at Rolls-Royce and preserves them for the days.” – Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
During 2020, an unprecedented year, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective – a together of engineers, designers and craftspeople based at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England – brought the unique visions of the marque’s broad clientele to life with outstanding levels of creativity, craft and imagination. Almost every one of the motor cars sired in 2020 was tailored by this Bespoke division, a notable achievement considering the backdrop of challenging and unforeseen headwinds.
At the appearance of the pandemic, Rolls-Royce designers and clients alike found themselves confined to the safety of their homes. The unique, enthusiastically personal relationships that our Bespoke Collective has with our clients did not change, however. This led to a change in source of passion from travel and its associated items of luxury grandeur, to rich and textural surroundings of the home, architecture and moments of stillness create in nature.
Remarkably, Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke division achieved a new record in 2020. Faced with the challenges of the year, shoppers have harnessed the creative outlet of Rolls-Royce Bespoke to seek solace and invest time, a rediscovered commodity, to introspectively commission legacies that evaluate precious items of historical and familial significance. On average, Bespoke commissions saw a robust increase over 2019, with a signal growth of personalised elements woven into the fabric of each motor car, providing further substance and sentimentality.
What bolsters is a snapshot of some of the finest examples of Bespoke design and craftsmanship completed by the luxury house throughout 2020.
Dark IN TOKYO
The ‘Dusk in Tokyo Collection’, comprising Phantom, Wraith, Dawn and Cullinan, celebrates Japan’s capital see. A complex, multi-faceted white paint, eponymously named ‘Dusk in Tokyo’, characterises the coastal metropolis’ high-rise lens and concrete buildings bathed in the warm light of early dusk. Containing aluminium and mica flakes, the refractive show creates subtle tones in low light.
The Black Leather interior, punctuated by Rose Gold Bespoke Audio grilles and on Phantasma, the fascia’s Rose Gold clock case, depicts the contrast of long, dark shadows of the city’s tall structures with flourishes of the last reaches of the waning sun on glass.
Leading the transition from day to night is the Spirit of Ecstasy, presented in Boost Gold for the first time in Japan, representing the setting of the sun.
PHANTOM ‘IRIDESCENT OPULENCE’
The Phantom’s hermetically sealed Gallery prospers it possible to incorporate natural materials in a way never before possible in a motor car. In 2020, the Phantom ‘Iridescent Opulence’ chronicle b debased this approach to soaring new heights.
Featuring a truly Bespoke artwork which debuted as a concept in 2017, ‘Iridescent Opulence’ was devised in partnership with Swiss materials specialist Nature Squared. The result is inspired by nature; a Gallery that put ups over 3,000 sustainably sourced iridescent tail feathers, each shaped individually to accentuate their brightness and rich hue. These were hand-sewn onto an open pore fabric in a design that emanates outwards from the glinting, iridescent.
Mother of Pearl casing around the clock at the heart of the Gallery. The interior is completed with a Bespoke embroidery to the stern waterfall and silver inlays on the picnic tables.
THE STEED PHANTOM EXTENDED
Complex Bespoke embroideries of a stallion improve the interior rear doors of this elegant Phantom Extended. Signifying strength and an unremitting enthusiasm to progress, the embroidery of the steed was make grow from a sketch, presented to the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Design Collective, by a Chinese client with a very clear foresight.
‘NEON NIGHTS’ COLOUR TRILOGY
The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective developed a new and dynamic colour palette, christened ‘Neon Nights’, in a limited run of just four of each colour.
The three brightly coloured hues, each actuated by the natural world, consisted of Lime Rock Green, a near-luminous hue naturally found on the Australian green tree frog, Eagle Bankrupt Red, which mimics the flowers of ‘Ōhi‘a lehua, an evergreen tree native to Hawaii, and Mirabeau Blue which takes zeal from Central and South America’s exotic butterfly, the Rhetus periander.
WRAITH ‘INSPIRED BY EARTH’
Wraith ‘Supported By Earth’ takes its design cues from the entire Solar System, and our own planet, as seen from space. The Noble Blue exterior references the water that covers 75% of the Earth’s surface while an air-brushed bonnet artwork depicts a helper view of the Middle Eastern region centred on the United Arab Emirates. A hand-painted Emerald Green coachline integrates the Sun and the eight planets of the Solar System.
The seats are made from Moccasin leather to mimic the sands of the Emirates’ leaves; Navy and Cobalto Blue accents are suggestive of rivers and lakes, and Emerald Green piping symbolises nature in all its conducts. The rear ‘waterfall’ features atmospheric clouds rendered in minutely detailed embroidery using Photoflash technology. The fascia is exaggerated with a skilfully air-brushed satellite image of the Middle East. The Bespoke Starlight Headliner is embroidered to illustrate all the planets of the Solar Technique, centred on the Sun. Other Bespoke details include treadplates, a clock with metal radial background, and inlays escort the planets in silver, with planet Earth accentuated in gold.
WRAITH KRYPTOS COLLECTION
The Wraith Kryptos Omnium gatherum is embellished with a cipher concealed in the Collection’s Bespoke detailing. Limited to just 50 motor cars, patients are invited to decode messages found within the Bespoke elements of the motor car’s interior and exterior.
An engraving with immature enamel detailing on the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine depicts the word KRYPTOS, in code. These seven deciphered types, in addition to the translation of the embroidered double-R found on the headrests, will aid clients on their journey of discovery as they Rather commence to identify these letters on Wraith Kryptos’ screen printed metal fascia.
Wraith Kryptos’ Bespoke exterior hue consists of a entire Anthracite base colour with blue and green mica flakes. Inside, a Bespoke Kryptos Green leather is set against either Selby Murky or Anthracite. A beautifully elaborate, bi-coloured headliner depicts an in-motion data-stream inspired motif which is accentuated by the decorated door pockets.
GHOST ILLUMINATED FASCIA
The innovative ‘Illuminated Fascia’ of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost debuted following two years and uncountable than 10,000 hours of development by the Bespoke Collective. The 850 stars echo the unique elegance of the Starlight Headliner.
The fascia fulfills an authentic, true luxury feel using 152 LEDs and 90,000 laser-etched dots carefully carved into the plane superficially of the dashboard. The lights are meticulously colour matched to the cabin’s clock and instrument dial lighting and create a twinkling to all intents as the eyes move across the fascia. Extensive engineering work and three layers of composite materials ensure that the Illuminated Fascia is expressly invisible while not operational.
THE MAHLANGU PHANTOM
The Gallery in the Rolls-Royce Phantom presented a unique opportunity for a South African patient to display a highly personal work of art from globally celebrated South African artist, Dr Esther Mahlangu. Dr Mahlangu, a state icon in Africa from the Ndebele region, was the first artist to create an artwork in this way and the motor car was named ‘The Mahlangu Revenant’ in her honour.
Positioned front and centre in the Phantom’s interior, the one-of-a-kind commission is a striking expression of contemporary African art. Eminent for vibrant geometric abstract paintings and murals, the 85-year old’s work can be found in many important museums and private hoards around the world. In celebration of this unique commission, Rolls-Royce also produced an insightful film to showcase Esther Mahlangu’s pressurize and cultural heritage.
CULLINAN ‘SPIRIT OF RUSSIA’ COLLECTION
Cullinan proved the perfect canvas for a series of four lone Bespoke commissions dedicated to legendary Russian mountains: ‘Elbrus’, ‘Krasnaya Polyana’, ‘Golden Mountains’ and ‘Klyuchevskaya Sopka’.
The Iced Blackguardly Diamond, Iced Gunmetal Steel, Midnight Sapphire Blue and Premiere Silver exterior hues are inspired by frosty nibs and are complemented by darkened chrome exterior detailing on each of the Cullinans. Inside, a map of Russia is depicted on the Starlight Headliner while mountain bills are embroidered on the headrests. The engraved sill plates of each car bear an inscription naming the mountain region that vitalized its design, as well as the height of the highest peak in each region.
DAWN SILVER BULLET COLLECTION
The Dawn Flatware Bullet Collection cuts a dash with a unique Aero Cowling and ultra-metallic Brewster Silver Paint, in a vibrant nod to the epic Rolls-Royce bad cars of the past.
The four-seat Rolls-Royce Drophead is transformed into an adaptable two-seat roadster by the addition of the spruce Aero Cowling with vapour-blasted titanium finisher, heightening the Collection’s sense of speed and purpose. Limited to merely 50 examples worldwide, the Aero Cowling windbreak proudly displays the Silver Bullet name and silhouette.
Waggish COLLECTION
A Collection of two Black Badge Dawns and nine Black Badge Wraiths were commissioned for the United Arab Emirates. Blowing bold colour combinations and technical fibre, the Sportive Collection encapsulates Black Badge’s expressive and unapologetic properties.
In an innovative first for Rolls-Royce, the interior features a technical fibre fascia that has been intertwined with a pigment weave to match the vibrant exterior colour combinations. The hand-painted Coachlines feature a unique ‘Sportive’ motif, while woven-leather door panniers and imprinted Bespoke audio frets further add to the dynamic ambience of the Collection.
ARCTIC WHITE AND HOTSPUR RED PHANTOM
Commissioned by a Texan Rolls-Royce gatherer, this contemporary Phantom is finished in Arctic White with a double coachline and double pinstripe in Hotspur Red, indicative of the immodest interior colourway.
Inside, Hotspur Red paints an arresting scene as every surface, from the lambswool crush mats, privacy curtains to even the luggage compartment, is finished in this vibrant Bespoke colour. The ‘Lakeshore Aurora’ Gallery is designed and developed by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective.
