Backstage: Lancel x Bandit

Bandit opens the studio doors and invites you behind the scenes of the photoshoot for its latest collection in collaboration with Lancel, the iconic French brand. From the first sketches to the collection's presentation, discover how ' LOVE ILLUSION' was born.

1. Designing the collection

After the success of our previous upcycled editions, we wanted to prolong the pleasure and repeat the experience. In April 2022, we opened discussions about a new, more comprehensive and versatile collection of accessories for dogs and cats. We then designed a range of accessories including collars, harnesses, bandanas, and leashes, available in two colors and intended for both cats and dogs.
For the pattern, no upcycling this time, but a new and already iconic print: an optical illusion, where Lancel's famous "L" repeats endlessly.

2. Making the accessories

From validating the print to leaving the workshop, it's just one step... Or almost!
Once the two prints are validated, the manufacturing of the accessories begins in our workshops; it then takes 1 to 2 months before we receive them. The icing on the cake? The accessories are 100% made in France!

3. Creating the photoshoot moodboard

While the workshop crafts the products, we need to prepare for the launch. The first step is to create the moodboard: the moodboard gathers our inspirations and allows us to visualize what we expect from the final result. This is the creative part.

Once the inspiration boards are validated, we need to organize the day at the photo studio, and that's when the loooong to-do lists begin ()! We have to think of everything: booking a studio, finding a photographer, booking a photo model, validating the styling, hiring a makeup artist, recruiting cats and dogs, and coordinating everyone. The key to success? Excel tables and checklists to not forget anything.

4. D-Day

Several weeks of preparation later, it's finally time to shoot the collection! We set up the set, adjust the lighting, and put on the accessories. Sky, a young Afghan Hound, is the first dog to enter the studio, alongside our photo model, Iris. We recruited 2 dogs and 2 cats to be the muses of this collection. After Sky, it will be Presley the Pointer's turn to be the star, then Coco the Maine Coon, and finally Shiloh the Siberian cat.

Working with animals allows us to experience extraordinary days. You have to know how to improvise (and often use treats as a trick) to get THE perfect photo. The most important thing for us is that the animal feels comfortable, so we take our time and work as a team with their owner to get different poses.
Discover the video of the 'LOVE ILLUSION' collection:

A big thank you to Sky, Presley, Coco, Shiloh, and their owners.

And that's a wrap! After a great day of shooting, the visuals go for retouching and will be delivered to us within a week.

5. Preparing the website for launch

The launch of the collection is a bit like a final sprint: the end is near, but it still requires some effort to get there. We don't waste time because we have to list all the new products, prepare their visuals, photograph the packshots, enter quantities, etc... This is the technical part.

6. The finish line: the collection presentation

'LOVE ILLUSION' is online The new accessories were simultaneously unveiled on our social media, our website, and in our newsletter. Almost a year after the first sketches, 'LOVE ILLUSION' has reached you, and we hope you like the result as much as we do.

The Bandit team

The article Backstage: Lancel x Bandit first appeared on The Daily Bandit.