Unless you’re happy to toe the fashion line, you may not have heard of ARK/8. But all that is set to change as the premium clothing and jewellery brand have joined forces with Bungie to create a whole new fashion line – the Destiny Europa Capsule Collection.
We love it when the gaming world and fashion industry combine, what with Ubisoft having previously been at the fore of matters with the likes of their Yeezy sneakers that worked with Assassin’s Creed Origins and a collaboration with Reebok for the launch of Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, but this time it’s all in Bungie’s hands to determine the Destiny of this range.
Launching in the UK and United States, the Destiny Europa collection helps celebrate the launch of Destiny 2’s latest expansion, Beyond Light. This collection combines the futuristic style of Destiny with contemporary streetwear jackets, bags and more. And yeah, it all looks pretty decent too. I mean, socks…
Founded in 2020 in Brussels, ARK/8 is a clothing, accessories & jewellery brand that brings together fashion and video games into premium and limited collections, working in collaboration with iconic artists and video games such as Koyorin, Resident Evil, Overwatch, Borderlands and Mass Effect. It’s a brand that asserts itself with a strong creative direction, infusing its collaborations with cyber and retro-futuristic culture.
“With over a decade of experience from Level Up Wear, our first venture into merchandising, ARK/8 offers another vision for the collaboration between the fashion and gaming worlds,” said Dimitri van Eetvelde, ARK/8’s Creative Director and co-founder. “In just one year, we have already collaborated with some of the most recognisable names in the video game industry and are delighted to collaborate with Bungie on this product. Looking to the future, by 2022, we also hope to launch our first independent collection.”
So what do we have with this collection? Well, expect futuristic and streetwear looks as things have been inspired by Jupiter’s icy moon of Europa, the main destination in Destiny 2’s Beyond Light expansion. The Europa collection features jackets, hoodies, sweaters, t-shirts and accessories, bringing together quality fabrics with oversized cuts on the most important exploration wear such as bomber jackets, puffer jackets, and backpacks including:
- KATA industrial jackets (available both cropped and in a long, unisex version) connect the traditional Japanese “KATAGINU” outfit with the classic bomber jacket. The Destiny inspiration is also noticeable in this product through the Destiny tricorn symbol engraved in the sleeve buckle, the Frozen Frontier symbol from Beyond Light, as well as a quilted top section, reminiscent of the game’s Europa armor sets.
- The new puffer jacket is meant for those expecting to venture out a little further into the elements. Consisting of a three-strap structure tied together by imposing buckles, this all-weather jacket is very similar to the sophisticated equipment carried by Guardians in Destiny 2.
- The Europa backpack and shoulder bag boast the same water-repellent fabric as the KATA jacket, while maintaining both a strong look and functional design. Equipped with a special hard-shelled pocket the bag can protect even the most sensitive electronic devices from the elements. It also offers a symmetrical ensemble of straps and buckles engraved with the emblematic Destiny logo for an industrial look, ready for urban excursions or spatial exploration. The shoulder bag also acts as a travel kit when the adjustable strap is removed.
If you’re interested, part of the Destiny Europa Capsule collection is produced in Portugal, composed of organic cotton only. Jackets in the collection are OEKO-TEX certified and lined with materials fabricated from recycled PET bottles. Both in this collection and as an overall philosophy, ARK/8 drives towards more and more sustainable fabrics and production processes, to then rely on them exclusively.
Want to know more or wish to grab some of the gear? The ARK/8 x Destiny Europa capsule collection is available now on the official ARK/8 Store. Go and pay them a visit. We’re getting the socks.
