The Japanese label AMBUSH has fans such as Kanye West and Pharrell Williams – and now also Moët & Chandon, whose champagne bottle has been given a new look by AMBUSH creative director Yoon.

When we celebrate, we dress up. This spring, it’s not just us in a new dress that are scoring points, but also the champagne from Moët & Chandon, which AMBUSH creative director Yoon has given a fresh coat of paint. Black cap, white label: The gold typical of Moët & Chandon gives way to a minimalist reinterpretation, but there is far more behind it than just a little color, as Yoon reveals in the interview.

The innovations of AMBUSH and the heritage of Moët & Chandon: was this collaboration a form of breaking the rules?
I’ve always liked to break the rules. I always stay true to myself, whether it’s with AMBUSH or a collaboration with another label. For this project with Moët & Chandon, it was clear to me that I had to convey my philosophy honestly and authentically. In one way, this collaboration was also
Moët & Chandon is breaking the rules by teaming up with a young, creative label as a prestigious French house.

In preparation, they traveled to Epernay to see the production of Moët & Chandon champagne. What particularly impressed you there?
I was deeply impressed by the way Moët & Chandon has preserved this craft over three generations and 278 years. I have witnessed how great the company’s respect for nature is and how the winegrowers therefore look after the vines and the land and take the time it takes to produce this champagne.

The appearance of Moët & Chandon bottles has not changed for 152 years. What was the biggest challenge when you took on this icon?
I was incredibly excited about this carte blanche. After all, the bottle has not been touched in terms of design since 1869. It was a big challenge to keep the iconic pillars, but at the same time I saw it as a great opportunity to incorporate my own aesthetic into this design.

What inspired you to do this?
I have tried to bring the essence of AMBUSH into the new design of the Moët & Chandon Limited Edition. I played with the iconic cornerstones and kept them, but changed the colors to give the bottle a new look. Replacing the gold with black was a drastic change – precisely because gold makes up a large part of the identity of this product. I then combined the black neck with a white label, which for me is symbolic of looking to the future. A future full of opportunities for all those who dare to take the step forward.

As part of this collaboration, Moët & Chandon has decided to support a charitable organization of your choice. Why did you choose World Land Trust?
This collaboration has really opened my eyes. During my visit to Epernay, I saw the dedication of the people at Moët & Chandon to nature. This inspired me to choose World Land Trust so that we can work together to preserve the earth.

Which project exactly is being supported?
As part of the collaboration between Moët & Chandon and AMBUSH, we support the protection of the Canandé Reserve in Ecuador, one of the most endangered tropical forests in the world, which is as biodiverse as the Amazon rainforest. Just two percent of the original rainforest still exists today, which is home to ten percent of all living creatures that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. In this way, we support the reforestation of the forest, not only to give the animals back their home, but also to combat climate change.

The Moët & Chandon X AMBUSH Limited Edition is available exclusively from Manor at a price of CHF 53 per bottle. In-store sales at Manor Geneva are available from 15. The limited edition will be available online from February 22.

Find out more about the Moët & Chandon X AMBUSH collaboration. Here you can see the complete interview with Yoon, Creative Director of AMBUSH: