A car, clothes and a maybe surprise sneaker collaboration too...
You’re looking at the latest collaboration between Porsche and what the New York Times called the prime “post-streetwear heritage brand”. Aimé Leon Dore of Queens, New York, has long featured everything from speedboats to fast cars alongside its signature hoodies, sweatshirts and caps. On three previous collaborations with Porsche, the brand has added subtle deluxe elements - reaching a new highpoint with this Porsche x Aimé Leon Dore spin on the last model of air-cooled 911s, the 993 Turbo from the mid-1990s. We like, a lot.
The super-dark paintwork is first stand-out feature. Stand-out, that is, precisely because it’s not designed to stop the traffic. This collaboration - like the other three Aimé Leon Dore Porsche designs - is all about looking closely. Lovingly applied at Porsche HQ, it’s dubbed Mulberry Green, developed by the clothing brand as a signature of Aimé Leon Dore.
Gold lettering to lower doors spells out 993 aimé Porsche, “993 loves Porsche”. Eighteen inch Porsche Turbo Twist Rims are in Mulberry Green with gold accents, wearing Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres, signalling that this is not just a cosmetic transformation, as Porsche are keen to stress. The collaboration carries signature “whale tail” spoiler from the 993 Turbo S, which also donates its front splitter and exhaust system to the project. Nice.
A look inside
Open a door and look down at the door sill. “A team from outta Queens,” it reads in flowing script, “with the American dream”. Gold gear knob takes on the shape of Queens landmark the Unisphere, a reminder of the 1964 World’s Fair held at Flushing Meadows. Luxury abounds here. Hard-backed sports seating is in dark brown leather, faced with matching fleecy inserts, also found on carpeting. This is one sybaritic place to spend time. Steering wheel and seatbacks feature unique Porsche and Aimé Leon Dore logo.
There’s a real confidence about this build that speaks of the length of time that New York street fashion label and prime German sports car manufacturer have been working together, starting with a pristine white 964 Carrera 4 in 2020, featuring Loro Piana houndstooth to the seating with Schott sunflower leather. Safari style 911 SC in 2021 in Porsche’s Olive colourway with added rally-style lights to the front featured a roof rack filled with holiday gear that Aimé Leon Dore founder Teddy Santis remembers from family holidays in the Greek islands. Last year, stripped back 1960 365B in understated Midnight Blue featured aluminium wheels and white walled tyres.
Porsche x Aimé Leon Dore: More than just a car
There's also a limited capsule collection of clothing to accompany the car. It includes a leather jacket, baseball cap, rugby top and chunky crewneck knit, among other things, all embellished with dual branding. Sneakily, it looks like this all ties in with the launch of a new Aimé Leon Dore New Balance 993 sneaker.
Want one of these? We’ve been trying to think what you’d need to pay should Porsche decide to sell this, or indeed any of the other, collaborations with Aimé Leon Dore. Pristine 993 generation 911 would cost you around £170,000. But that’s just the start. Double that? Treble it? We suspect Porsche could name their price. As for us, we wouldn’t turn away a stock 993 if it turned up in our drive, last of the true air-cooled 911s. Mulberry Green paintjob? Incoming.
