Yinka Ilori Unveils Vibrant Veuve Clicquot Collaboration

MILAN — Yinka Ilori, a British-Nigerian multidisciplinary artist, designer and entrepreneur, is known for his upbeat prints and designs that conjure joy.

On Friday, Veuve Clicquot unveiled a collection of gift items designed by Ilori to complement the Champagne house’s Yellow Label and Rosé cuvées. Named “Chasing the Sun,” the limited-edition series includes a vibrantly colored Champagne bucket, calabash bottle and a gift box. The rectangular box reimagines the Clicquot arrow and can be personalized to display the distance between an individual’s chosen destination and the house’s cellars in Reims, France.

Visually, the designs were inspired by nature, Ilori told WWD. One recurring reference is the calabash, a gourd-shaped fruit, which appears throughout the collection. The calabash is widely used across West African culture and represents nourishment, sharing and creativity, a facet that recalls his own heritage and is a tribute to his Nigerian-born parents. “Bringing that symbol into the work allowed me to connect my heritage with the narrative of the project,” he recalled.

A Cultural Connection

Growing up, Ilori’s parents often said “Whatever you sow is what you shall reap,” he recalled. “That idea stayed with me during this project. It’s about intention, patience, and believing that something meaningful can grow from what you put into the world. In many ways, that mindset felt aligned with the spirit of Veuve Clicquot as well.”

The London-based creative, who has infused this signature flair into everything from luxury cars to tableware, has most recently been focused on empowering communities in Nigeria and elsewhere and inspiring young talent.

In October he launched the Yinka Ilori Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reimagining how communities around the world access creativity and opportunity.

This latest foray into the world of spirits was about communicating with a different audience and entering a different cultural space.

“That creates new conversations between people, objects and aesthetics that might not usually intersect. It also gives you insight into different values and ways of working, which can be so valuable as a designer,” he said.

Designers and Spirits

Ilori is the latest in a long list of designers who have inked deals with spirits houses. Such practice has been on the rise since Absolut Vodka pioneered the artistic collaboration with Keith Haring in 1986. This trend culminated in 2023, when French designer Philippe Starck was tapped as creative director for Scotch whisky brand Mortlach.

In 2024, Italy- and Netherlands-based studio Formafantasma signed a partnership with France’s Maison Perrier-Jouët to create a biodiversity project in the Champagne region.

Samuel Ross’ industrial design practice SR_A designed a China-inspired, limited-edition bottle for Absolut Vodka in 2023. Ross also designed Transposition, an immersive sculptural environment installation with Scotch whisky maker The Balvenie at Milan Design Week 2025.

In 2017, Marc Newson turned the Hennessy X.O. bottle into a corrugated relief of striations, while in 2020 architect Frank Gehry famously marked the 150th anniversary of Hennessy X.O. with a limited-edition bottle that was covered in a sleeve of 24-karat gold-dipped bronze. That was followed by Daniel Libeskind in 2022, who designed the angular Richard Hennessy decanter in Baccarat crystal.  

Life After Consumption

Unique, handmade vessels are on the rise and established brands and emerging ones alike are seeking design collaborations with intention. Sofía Paloma Juárez, chief executive officer and founder of tequila brand Casa J, designed her bottle silhouette with illustrator Kate Francis. She then commissioned renowned porcelain experts Anfora Ceramica to craft each and every one of their sinuous bespoke tequila vessels. 

Located in the city of Pachuca, Hidalgo, in central Mexico, the Anfora team are artisans who have been producing custom tableware since 1920.

The vessel, she said, is meant to have a life well beyond consumption, to be shared, gifted and adored as a decanter, vase or candelabra.

“My intention was to design a unique, handmade vessel that celebrates the artisanal craftsmanship of México. To honor and empower the female artisans behind each and every bottle. A commitment to preserving and uplifting México’s artisanal craft, culture and raw materials,” Juárez said.