Hemper & Fred Segal Team Up For The Ultimate Collab. This is what happens when two powerhouse brands collide.
For those who aren’t familiar, Hemper is a staple in the cannabis space, offering affordable bong and smoke accessories for consumers all around the world. Fred Segal, on the other hand, is a staple in the fashion industry. Since its inception in 1961, Fred Segal has created signature styles inspired directly by the city of Angels.
Now, Hemper and Fred Segal are excited as ever to be launching their first-ever collab of this caliber, creating a line of elegant smokeware silhouettes. Products include the Beaker Bong, Bubble Bong, Peace Pipe, Heart Ashtray, Peace Hand Ashtray, Peace Sign Ashtray, and Love Catchall — all inspired by Fred Segal’s iconic branding, as well as their ongoing cause and messaging for positivity and love.
Honeysuckle spoke with Hemper’s CMO Angel Ferrer about the exciting new collab.
HS: What was the reality of teaming up with an iconic brand like Fred Segal?
Honestly, it really helped open up a lot of doors. Because a lot of the brands we try to work with or want to work with, that might have grown up wanting to be around when it comes to smoking accessories or cannabis, they think it's taboo. Working with Fred Segal, it really has opened the door and allowed people to really see what we can bring to the industry. Not just your regular basic beaker, your regular ashtray. It's something different that people want to explore, they want to use. They want to have in their home, whether they're actively using it or they want it for art and display purposes.
HS: Fred Segal is more fashion and clothes, I'm assuming they're cannabis friendly over there?
Yeah, their entire team has been cannabis friendly. Their executive team has been cannabis friendly. They want to explore the space; this is their first foray into it, so it's been pretty interesting. We had a pretty successful launch party. We launched during 4/20, then we also did a follow-up launch party across the street at a dispensary that just had opened up their lounge. That was also a dope experience to collaborate with them on.
The Beaker Bong is priced at $175, which is much higher than typical Hemper products. How's the reception been?
Honestly, we priced it at the prices that Fred Segal moves at. If you go into their store, you're already dropping on average $300, $500 bucks. They collaborated with us on the pricing. Being in a store that's already selling at that value, will it move? Yes, we've had sales on both sides. Direct to consumer on our website, it was a little different. People weren't necessarily ready to pay for that Fred Segal pricing? It's a big New Yorker, LA, high-end, behind-the-scenes brand. When people are aware about it and do know about it, that are at that level of class, they're all over and they want to buy. They can afford it. They know their demographic of buyers, so it's been pretty easy for us to figure out who to get into the right hands on.
HS: What's your favorite piece and why?
My favorite piece would be the ceramic Beaker Bong. It's my favorite piece because of the bowl, the bowl is my favorite aspect of it. It being ceramic, I've dropped it a few times at home. It hasn't broken on me, so that's key. For me, that would be my favorite piece, if I had to choose a glass piece. If I'm looking at the whole collection, honestly the peace sign ashtray is my favorite. I have one in my bedroom, and I have one downstairs in the living room. It's been a statement piece for everyone. When they come over to my house and we're smoking joints, they see it and they're like “oh shit, that's a dope fucking ashtray.”
HS: I like the positive vibes too. I love the messaging.
The Catchall tray was another piece; it's different. It's not something that we always do; it's not like an ashtray. But people have been falling in love with it. I have a few friends that purchased it online, and they have it at their front door. It's great messaging, it's a great vibe and great color. People fall in love with the brand.
HS: What other high-profile collaborations do you have in the works?
We do have a lot in the works. On the record, we have 4 or 5 collabs planned out for the next two years. The one I'm most hyped for deals with a cartoon show. Not gonna say which one yet, you're gonna have to wait for that one. The other one is a very heady brand of music, so that's also gonna be an interesting one. Lastly, one's a very, very popular consumer packaging brand, that is always doing some next-level marketing. Between those 3 that are coming out of the next two years, they're gonna be great.
Hemper’s Strategic Move
Hemper's collaboration with Fred Segal marks a strategic expansion into high-fashion smokeware, a move that significantly broadens their market reach. This partnership not only merges two distinct industries—cannabis and fashion—but also demonstrates Hemper’s adaptability and innovative approach to product design. By integrating Fred Segal’s iconic style into their products, Hemper is setting a new standard for premium cannabis accessories.
Fred Segal’s Bold Step into Cannabis
Fred Segal’s foray into the cannabis space reflects a growing trend among fashion brands to embrace cannabis culture. This collaboration represents a significant cultural shift, blending Fred Segal's fashion-forward approach with Hemper’s established cannabis expertise. The resulting products, from the sleek Beaker Bong to the aesthetically pleasing Peace Sign Ashtray, underscore the evolving intersection of fashion and cannabis. This partnership not only enhances the visibility of cannabis in mainstream culture but also provides consumers with high-quality, stylish smoking accessories.
Future Collaborations and Industry Trends
Looking ahead, Hemper’s plans for future collaborations suggest a continued commitment to innovation and cross-industry partnerships. By engaging with a diverse range of brands—from cartoon shows to music entities—Hemper is poised to keep pushing the boundaries of cannabis culture. These upcoming collaborations hint at exciting developments in the industry, where cannabis intersects with various facets of entertainment and consumer products.
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