Balmain Paris launches NFC-enabled Pokémon Adventure with SharpEnd

Balmain Paris has given fans the unique chance to enjoy their favourite Pokémon characters once more by launching the Balmain x Pokémon collection, an immersive digital experience enabled through NFC patches and a connected jacket.

To integrate the technology, Balmain has partnered with SharpEnd. Fans can get their hands on one of the 15 Balmain x Pokémon limited edition NFC enabled patches available at nine Balmain boutiques across the US, Europe and Asia.

The partnership is the first to connect a physical touchpoint with digital rewards in the Pokémon UNITE universe. Once purchased, users access the experience by tapping their smartphone onto the patches, unlocking a range of digital content and prizes such as VIP tickets to the Balmain Festival or early access to the Balmain Fashion set in Pokémon UNITE. The patches are only available in person at Balmain stores.

The showpiece of the collaboration is 20 limited edition luxury jackets. Each jacket features 15 patches embedded with NFC tags. There are ten bespoke jackets worldwide and ten will be gifted to celebrities around the world.

Olivier Rousteing, Creative Director of Balmain said: “This is the first time Balmain has explored NFC technology and as a luxury brand, we are excited for the continued integration of new technologies, offering our customers an engaging, collectable experience, making our brand more widely accessible to a larger audience than ever before.”