Burberry were “honored” to design for Usher’s tour. The collaboration represents one of the most significant partnerships between luxury fashion and music entertainment this year.
The 46-year-old singer has a wide range of custom looks for his ‘Past Present Future’ European shows and the fashion house were keen to “pay tribute to London” in their contributions, while reflecting Usher’s “status as a world wide superstar”. The tour has been drawing enthusiastic crowds at venues across major European cities.
“We were honored to be asked to create custom looks for Usher’s performances,” Burberry creative director Daniel Lee told WWD. “Usher is a true icon but also a personal friend and we wanted to make sure that his status as a worldwide superstar was reflected. Usher has incredible on-stage charisma that we wanted to channel but also pay tribute to London. The partnership involved extensive craftsmanship to complete all custom pieces.
“In honor of Savile Row, we created a black tailoring look, embroidered with a traditional herringbone pattern. In tribute to our check, we created a uniform-inspired disco ball look, embellished in silver and green shades. The intricate embellishments include countless sequins hand-applied by skilled artisans.
“The military jacket has a knitted silver military rope detail for closure too. As everyone knows, Usher is a very talented skater — so we created a pair of custom roller skates for the looks.” The skates feature Burberry’s signature check pattern and were specially crafted to ensure performance quality.
David Koma created two looks for the ‘Yeah!’ hitmaker, one of which incorporated oversized crystals in keeping with the theme of his current spring collection. Each crystal was individually selected for its clarity and brilliance, with impressive pieces adorning the custom outfit.
“The tabard comes directly from the collection while the trousers featuring crystal hand-embroidery and the other pieces were custom-designed specifically for Usher,” he said. The crystal embellishments required meticulous hand-application by skilled craftspeople.
“[The second look features] an extraordinary oversize faux fur coat. I spent a long time sourcing the perfect faux fur — one with rich depth of color and a truly luxurious feel — and I’m so excited to see it take center stage. The coat used innovative sustainable materials that replicate the look and feel of real fur while maintaining ethical standards.
“Not only is it my first time working with him but it also marks my debut in custom menswear. I officially launched the menswear side of my brand last June and I wanted to wait for the perfect project to introduce it on a grand scale. I couldn’t have asked for a better first collaborator — Usher is a true icon and his music was such a defining part of my younger years.” The collaboration has already generated significant industry buzz, with growing interest in Koma’s menswear line since tour images were released.
During the show, Usher also wears outfits from the likes of Celine, Missoni, Ralph Lauren and Mowalola but the ‘OMG’ singer can’t single out a favorite. His tour wardrobe consists of numerous complete outfit changes, requiring a dedicated styling team backstage.
“I love what we’ve created collectively,” he said. “The wardrobe represents a substantial investment in custom designer pieces, setting a new standard for tour fashion.
“I love music. I love entertainment. I always love fashion. I have a grand respect for the work that they do. Fashion has been integral to Usher‘s career since his debut, with his style evolution spanning nearly three decades in the industry.
“It’s a bit of a challenge at times because there are so many changes, but I’m doing it because this is the part that makes me love what I do.” Each costume change must be completed rapidly between songs, requiring precision timing from both Usher and his backstage team.
The ‘Past Present Future’ tour marks one of Usher‘s most ambitious productions to date, featuring not only revolutionary fashion but also state-of-the-art lighting, sound, and stage design. The European leg follows his critically acclaimed Las Vegas residency and memorable Super Bowl Halftime Show performance earlier this year.
