Cognac Couture: Kim Jones X Hennessy X.O

Hennessy X.O, the prestigious cognac brand, has teamed up with renowned designer Kim Jones for a collaboration that fuses the worlds of fashion and heritage. In a departure from its usual partnerships with artists, architects, and directors, Hennessy X.O has ventured into the fashion space for the first time with this collaboration.

Jones, known for his streetwear résumé and his role as artistic director of Dior Men, has reinterpreted the brand’s 150-year history through a contemporary lens, while still honouring the complex art form passed down through eight generations of master blenders. “I’m interested in the best of the best. And [Hennessy] is the best at making cognac,” Jones says.

Hennessy has a rich history dating back to 1765 when the company was founded by Richard Hennessy, an Irishman who settled in the town of Cognac in France. Hennessy quickly established a reputation for producing high-quality cognac, which was enjoyed by royalty and nobility throughout Europe. 

The collaboration features an exclusive Masterpiece decanter, a limited-edition Hennessy X.O bottle, and a standout piece of the range: the HNY Low sneaker, crafted in an LVMH-owned shoe factory in Italy. The sneaker’s upper, made of premium nubuck, is inspired by the amber brown tones of cognac. Co-branded touches adorning the heel and the leather midsole incorporate the curves of the bottle’s labelling.

Jones also designed the Masterpiece sculptural decanter, which is limited to only 200 units and created using 3D printing technology with hand-finished details. Its design cues are inspired by the original way Hennessy bottles were wrapped in tissue paper at the turn of the 20th century, and the gradient hues reference the colors of the vast eaux-de-vie reserve aged in barrels.

“I visited the archive of Hennessy and treated it the same way as with any house. It was about studying the DNA and the history,” Jones says.

The limited-edition bottle is encased in an aluminum second skin that showcases the bottle’s signature shape while channeling a couture silhouette, with dual branding completing the design.

Jones, who attended the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, has developed an interest in art and technology that has led to the use of 3D printing in his designs. Jones’ collaboration with Hennessy is a continuation of this approach, as he merges different worlds to create something unique and cutting-edge.

This collaboration marks the fusion of two leading forces driving culture forward and pushing the boundaries of their established disciplines. As Jones says, “A cognac and a sneaker is not a usual pairing. I wanted it to be very classic. I wanted it to be a shoe that a lot of different people could wear.”