Bally introduces eco-friendly products to mark its 170th Anniversary

On the 170th anniversary, the Switzerland-based company Bally launches a collection of eco-friendly bags and accessories for spring 2021.

During the Milan Fashion Week, ahead of the company’s presentation of the fall 2021 collection, Nicolas Girotto Bally CEO said that Bally has the capacity to adapt, evolve and be relevant, even after facing the good and the bad times over 170 years. He also said that Belly is paying tribute to its artisans, and its coed collection titles “ode to the Alpine heritage to mark its 170th anniversary.

Bally raised the bar on eco-friendly materials for fall. It includes jersey pants in a natural pomegranate dye and Cliff bags for men in vegetable-tanned leather, free of synthetic finishing. They have also used 100% recycled plastic elements and used thermoplastic polyurethane and regenerated leather instead of PVC.

Bally’s artisans were described as “architects of leather,” by Girotto who treated the material as a fabric. The eco-friendly collection includes a black-colored delicate leather vest with pleats, worn over a black silk dress and deep moss with viscose-silk sleeves and leather trim details. Inspired by the Andean landscape which refers to historical mountain expeditions that Bally helped sponsor in the early 20th century, a lambskin leather wrap dress was introduced in a heritage red color. The color palette contained warm, earthy tones including stone, ebony, moss, and clay. A patchwork lambskin coat in different shades of brown was remarkable.

Bally has reinterpreted the Bally Stripe for the anniversary and streamlined it through an embossing technique while for footwear and accessories, they have used 1851 symmetric hardware. By a Swiss graphic studio- Offshore, a celebratory monogram has also been introduced especially for the anniversary. As a creative nod to Bally’s roots as a shoemaker, it features the signature B-Chain interlocked and reminiscent of shoelaces.

They have offered hiking and curling boots but are not aiming to produce technical shoes. With oversized 1851 hardware, leather platform heels were also introduced in dark, rich tones. It also includes bags such as a Cabana bucket bag with monogram motifs and supersized, ultra-soft leather totes with embossed logos, Graphic crossbody mini bags and shoulder bags featuring bombé Bally Stripe inspired details; and saddle bags with woven finishes and contrast stitching.

Girotto said that he felt very proud that through the pandemic, Bally was able to maintain its commitment to the Bally Peak Outlook project which targets conserving the mountains and their communities. He also mentioned that around 4.5 tons of waste had been removed in the last 2 years. Despite the adverse conditions, they have succeeded to support the Sherpa community which was strongly impacted last year.

Along with working with the local Sherpa communities, Bally Peak Outlook Foundation has also sponsored the critical clean-ups of Mount Everest along with 7 other 8,000-meter peaks in the Himalayan region by 2022. Other mountaineering organizations include the Japanese Fuji Club with which Bally has linked for clean-up expeditions.