Armani-Mercedes

Italy's International Icon of style - Georgio Armani - and auto design leader Mercedes-Benz have launched a joint initiative. Bridge of Weir Leather has a played a leading role. Passion and performance are key themes embedded in a collaborative programme between the two upper level consumer brand titans.

The first evidence is the appearance of a Mercedes-Benz CLK Georgio Armani Design car - exhibited during Milan's famous fashion week (September/October 2003). Based on a CLK cabriolet, the Armani machine is a visual and tactile treat for anyone with a professional interest in colour and trim.

The high technology canvas soft-top peels back to reveal beautiful Bridge of Weir Leather on seats, centre console and steering wheel. It has been finished in the Cuio style, fashionable in the 1940s and 1950s. Leather combines with leading edge fabrics adopted from present day sportswear. It took four months of work at Armani's Milan base and at the magnificent 18Th century Villa Salazar in Como that is home to DaimlerChrysler Advanced Design Italia. One of three studios belonging to DaimlerChrysler Design Centre in Germany, its focus is on conception and development of passenger car interiors. Up-to-the-minute thinking is encouraged ? but styling trends that are likely to be ephemeral are avoided.

"It's a magnificent piece of design cross-over between the automotive and fashion industries, with a timelessness associated with both Mercedes and Armani," said Dale Wallace, Sales Manager at Bridge of Weir.

The experience of working on this car is another vindication of Bridge of Weir's commitment to innovate and bring fresh product options to the design table - without losing sight of the fundaments of quality and cost efficiency.

For some considerable time, Bridge of Weir has been investing in research and development activities to deliver to our automotive customers a level of added value that differentiates us in the global marketplace. We pride ourselves on our creativity, but we also rigorously test our new developments and that's clearly an ethos with resonance at DaimlerChrysler Advanced Design Italia.

The AMG performance division of Mercedes-Benz is already a valued customer at Bridge of Weir.