What does an iconic luxury hospitality chain like The Ritz-Carlton have in common with an independent Spanish brand? A collaborative collection. And not just any collaboration, but one that has evolved into a fully formed lifestyle universe. The partnership between The Ritz-Carlton and Late Checkout returns with its second chapter, a continuation of the story that first imagined how fashion and hospitality can speak to each other. The new capsule arrives in Dubai with expanded ready-to-wear, kids wear, home essentials, and a cinematic campaign filmed at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, starring Josh Hutcherson.
A palette of navy, ivory, and light blue nods to The Ritz-Carlton’s heritage while carrying Late Checkout’s signature playfulness. From featherlight knits and embroidered Sukajan jackets to tuxedo-inspired dressing gowns and travel-ready accessories, the capsule deepens a shared perspective: hotels are not just places to stay, but worlds to step into.
Shot in the serenity of Nikko, the campaign balances elegance with the mischievous undertone that defines Late Checkout. With a bar takeover, a pop-up, and the launch of the “Very Late Checkout” suite stay in Dubai, the collaboration extends into an immersive lifestyle experience.
To understand the inspiration behind the collection, we sat down with the brand’s Founder Alex Turrión, to discuss the latest collaboration, his vision with the new range, and more.
WHAT DOES “HOTEL CULTURE” MEAN TO YOU BEYOND THE AESTHETIC? WHAT PARTS OF THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY SHAPE YOUR CREATIVE VISION?
“For me, I’ve always loved traveling, and it’s always been one of my hobbies. I think it’s something that opens your mind. I love indulging in other cultures, foods, seeing how people behave in other places, how they relate to clothes, how they dress. I think it’s important not to close your mind to what you know, but to have the hunger to discover other places, learn new things, see what they give you, and how you can take things from other cultures and make them your own. I also think it’s really important to feel comfortable traveling and to feel at home when you’re away. That makes you want to travel more. I think feeling at home when you’re outside your home is central to our collection. We want people to get the feeling of arriving somewhere and being able to feel instantly at home—just like they do when they arrive at a Ritz-Carlton property.”
THE RITZ-CARLTON PARTNERSHIP FEELS LIKE A NATURAL MATCH FOR A BRAND ROOTED IN JET-SET IDENTITY. WHAT MADE THE RELATIONSHIP WORK CREATIVELY FROM THE BEGINNING?
“They contacted us three years ago, and for us it was a no-brainer. We were a smaller brand than we are now, and having such a giant and historical hotel chain reach out was fantastic. We knew we had to do it. It normally takes us a year to a year and a half to bring a collection to life. We put a lot of time behind this. It’s really gratifying. This is actually our first collaboration ever. It feels organic because the whole brand is based on hosts, traveling, and storytelling. Working with a hotel chain and being able to give our point of view, our storytelling, and a new vision to The Ritz-Carlton felt natural.”
HOW DO YOU TRANSLATE RITZ-CARLTON’S ICONIC LUXURY IDENTITY INTO CLOTHING?
“The first thing we asked them, once we were past the initial conversations, was: why us? With all due respect, they could collaborate with anyone. They told us it was because of the unexpected. There were no constraints. Maybe a bigger brand would have certain rules to follow. They also wanted a different audience. That was the fun part. They have given us so much freedom, creatively and narratively. For us, it’s very important to have control over creativity because we know the story we want to tell. That’s essential in a collaboration between two worlds. You have to respect their heritage and their values while still adding your touches.”
WHO IS THE “LATE CHECKOUT” SHOPPER? WHO DO YOU DESIGN FOR?
“I want the buyers of Late Checkout to feel part of the story, not just buy a hoodie or a piece they like. Your tastes change, but if you feel part of a world, you want to return to it. It’s the same as when you’re on holiday and you like a hotel — you want to come back because you feel at home. That’s what I want for the brand: that people want to return because they feel part of the universe.”
THE LOCATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN CARRY STRONG ATMOSPHERES. WHAT DOES JAPAN AND SPECIFICALLY THE RITZ-CARLTON NIKKO BRING TO THE TONE OF CHAPTER II?
“The first collection was about giving the consumer what they had in mind. For a collaboration with The Ritz-Carlton, we thought: what would we expect? So the unexpected part was the collaboration itself. For the clothes, we worked with the Carlton colors, vintage silhouettes, and heritage. The video for the first collaboration was not location-specific. It was shot in Hong Kong but wasn’t a Hong Kong story. The collection was global. This second collection is more location-specific. We knew we were going to shoot in Nikko. I’m crazy about Japanese culture. So we brought in certain colors, umbrellas with bamboo handles, tones of blue.
The logo this season also has a Japanese sensibility. We took what worked in the first collection and made it more specific without making it too Japanese. The collections also talk about how a trip or stay can change you. When you end a trip, you have changed as well. The Ritz-Carlton motto is ‘Let us stay with you.’ In the first campaign, someone arrives stressed, with problems to solve, the pace is chaotic, the music is louder. We wanted that vibe — how you arrive and how the stay changes you. For Nikko, the feeling is calmer, more refined. Japan is my favorite place. When I saw the hotel next to the lake and the volcano, it felt amazing. We translated that into a calmer narrative. We looked for a hotel that would be perfect for telling that idea. When we saw Nikko, it felt perfect, and we went for it.”
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH HOTELS SHOWCASE THE COLLECTION?
“We have been picky to some extent. We set certain guidelines that the properties must follow, but being a Ritz-Carlton already means certain standards. There isn’t a property that can’t have it if they meet the guidelines. As long as a property is willing to collaborate and follow the guidelines, we’re happy.”
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