Anna Sui designs coffee accessories for Starbucks

Fashionable coffee drinkers have a reason to celebrate this Christmas. Iconic fashion designer Anna Sui has given Starbucks merchandise a makeover for the holidays, and it’s full of her love for color and vintage prints.

The global coffee chain has had a history of collaborations with edgy, fashion-forward designers like Christian Siriano, Jonathan Adler, Rodarte, Charlotte Ronson, Alice + Olivia and Stacey Bendet, resulting in limited-edition designer collections that were offered to customers in stores and online.

The Anna Sui x Starbucks collection includes tote bags, Double Wall travel mugs, S’Well thermos bottles, and an Anna Sui x Starbucks card and card carrier.

Sui’s love for rococo detailing is evident in the Double Wall mugs, one of which features artwork from her New York flagship, as well as a replica of a dress from her fashion line inspired by Marie Antoinette. The other reflects vintage royalty mashed up with a cutting-edge rock-’n’-roll aesthetic — no surprise from a designer fascinated by the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards and his chickadee Anita Pallenberg.

While Starbucks specially designed these mugs to keep drinks and hot beverages at their ideal temperature, the S’Well bottles are guaranteed to keep your drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. Sui’s quintessential butterfly artwork adorns the nine-oz. version, while the 17-oz. showcases her famed storefront mannequin artwork, which has made an appearance on everything from cosmetics to fragrance.

I love the tote bags, which highlight Sui’s playful signature style in my favorite color, purple. Capping off the collection is the Anna Sui x Starbucks card and card carrier, which enables customers to register for My Starbucks Rewards, with a variety of exclusive offers and benefits.

As Sui is perennially busy — most recently with her spring 2016 collection and opening a new store in New York’s SoHo — we conducted our interview via email. Here are the highlights:

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: How did this collaboration with Starbucks come about?

ANNA SUI: The Council of Fashion Designers of America has been putting together some interesting collaborations for its members.  Last year they paired me up with Best Buy.  The result was an adorable set of cellphone and laptop cases in some of my favorite signature floral prints.

What was the inspiration behind the design of Anna Sui x Starbucks merchandise?

The Stripe and Rose wallpaper pattern comes directly from a dress in my spring 2007 collection.  I love how the Starbucks cup includes the lace detailing!   

The dress itself makes an actual appearance in my second cup design.  A mannequin wears it in a cartoon version of my iconic downtown New York boutique: lavender walls, red floor and purple velvet chairs!  The S’Well thermos bottles feature other signature boutique elements: stained-glass windows, dress-forms and butterflies. 

Could you tell us more about the creative process for this collection?

My goal was to customize the Starbucks shapes with beloved iconography from the World of Anna Sui.

Where do you usually get your design inspiration? What inspires you?

 I feel lucky that everything I’m currently obsessed with can serve as inspiration for my work (films, exhibitions, music, books, travel, flea markets).  I enjoy doing research.  I have a love for fashion history, and like to explore different eras.  I’m fascinated by the influences of art, history and politics. 

What makes a great working environment for you?  Do you work out of a Starbucks store or have meetings over coffee there?

When you see my office, it’s clear that I need to surround myself with all my inspirations: mood boards, books, fabrics, research… everything I love.  I need all my influences around me to be creative.  I rarely have meetings outside my office.

What is your favorite Starbucks beverage?

Pumpkin Latte.

Could you share with us some Christmas gift ideas?

I think this limited-edition Starbucks collaboration is full of great gift ideas.  I’m sure all my fans will have these cups, thermoses and totes on their wish lists.

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The Starbucks x Anna Sui collection is available at select Starbucks stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.starbucks.ph.

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