‘Tron’ fans are sitting pretty — in $15,000 armchairs
The merchandise collaborations for “Tron: Legacy,” which opened in theaters Friday, may seem like they’re all over the grid — with the movie’s distinctive look and name turning up on everything from $30 backpacks to $15,000 hand-finished designer armchairs.
But the range of wares has actually been carefully calculated to appeal to a variety of demographics, whether fan boy or fashionista, following the same strategy Disney Consumer Products used to leverage “Alice in Wonderland” this year. (Remember the Sue Wong dresses, the Tom Binns and Stella McCartney jewelry, OPI nail polish and Urban Decay eyeshadow?) Below, we’ve compiled a few of the more intriguing, wildly expensive and fashion-forward of the myriad “Tron: Legacy” tie-ins:
“Tron” armchair
Inspired by the Outlands digital terrain of the film and designed by Dror Benshetrit for Cappellini and Walt Disney Signature, the four special-production armchairs unveiled at Design Miami 2010 this month are made of hand-layered fiberglass and polyester resin. They are individually hand-finished, and the gray base color is accented with varying degrees of what looks like orange or white splashes and stripes of paint. A less expensive mass-produced version is set to debut at the Milan International Furniture Show in April.
“Tron” armchair, $15,000, Poltrona Frau & Cappellini Showroom, Miami
Sterling-silver “Tron: Legacy” jewelry
The sterling-silver jewelry collaboration with New York-based designer Robin Rotenier includes a few pieces that instantly telegraph “Tron” (including a pair of Lightcycle cufflinks, $345), but most of the bracelets, necklaces and earrings are abstract pieces that evoke the look and feel of the film through the use of symbols and shapes, a refreshing approach. The statement piece of the collection is a chunky, rhodium-plated, sterling silver icon disk necklace with a $2,600 price tag.
Rotenier for Walt Disney Signature, $345 to $2,600, available at Royal/T’s “Tron: Legacy” pop-up, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City through Thursday and online at https://www.rotenier.com.
Street-legal motorcycle suits
If you fancy yourself to be a Flynn or Quorra and the motorcycle is your preferred mode of transportation, you may be interested in Universal Designs Ltd.’s street-legal replicas of the suits the pair wear while zipping around the grid on their Lightcycles. The outfits (Sam Flynn for him, Quorra for her) include CE-approved body armor, form-molded leather detailing, stretch spandex inserts, a tone-on-tone silicone hexagon print (the hexagon is one of the many recurring geometrical design motifs in the film) and light-reflective accents.
Only 1,000 of each are being offered, with delivery not expected until the second quarter of 2011 (which should give you plenty of time to take motorcycle lessons — in case you’re not street-legal).
“Tron: Legacy” street-legal replica motorcycle suits for men and women, $995 at https://www.UDReplicas.com.
Quorra platform sandal
The footwear collaborations for the film have been particularly noteworthy, and the priciest pair of them all was the futuristic, fashion-forward silver sandals with a 5-inch platform heel. They come from L.A.-based shoe designer Jerome C. Rousseau. One might expect a $795 price tag to be a hurdle at the register for even the most ardent enthusiast, but according to the staff at the “Tron: Legacy” pop-up shop inside Royal/T in Culver City, they’re moving at a surprisingly brisk pace, with six pairs walking out the door in the first two weeks alone.
Quorra Platform Sandal designed by Jerome C. Rousseau, $795 at Royal/T through Thursday (with distribution expanding worldwide in February2011).
“Tron: Legacy” Opening Ceremony collection
The capsule apparel and accessories collaboration with Opening Ceremony One was among the most unexpected — and most fun — of all the tie-ins. Using a yellow, blue and orange color palette inspired by the movie and a range of fabrics that includes neoprene, Melton wool, twill, corduroy, and a form-fitting stretch spandex, the women’s pieces include bomber jackets with oversized funnel necks, snug scuba shirts, bodice dresses, seamed leggings and eye-catching sculpted neoprene textured rubber sock boots and the men’s offerings include moto jackets, patchwork poplin shirts and cargo pants.
“Tron: Legacy” Opening Ceremony collection retails from $230 for bodice tank tops to $575 moto jackets, available locally at Royal/T through Thursday and at Opening Ceremony, 451 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood.
