crafted from obsession | CUPRA unveils Dark Rebel

Usually, a Bespoke Rolls-Royce commission involves colour-matching a specific flower from a private estate or sourcing wood from a centuries-old forest. But for Goodwood’s latest client – a tech entrepreneur with a serious case of 1980s nostalgia – the brief was a little different: make it play.

The new Black Badge Ghost Gamer is the first-ever Rolls-Royce inspired by the ‘Golden Age’ of arcade gaming. It is a gloriously retro-futurist love letter to the 8-bit era, transforming the world’s most luxurious motor car into an immersive, deep-pocketed tribute to the digital worlds of ‘Space Invaders’ and ‘Pac-Man.’

While the marque has previously flirted with hidden codes in the cryptic Wraith Kryptos collection and its vehicles have long been digital status symbols in franchises like ‘Forza Motorsport,’ this marks the first time Goodwood has physically engineered the 8-bit universe into a bespoke commission.

The exterior sets the mood immediately. Finished in a dual-tone Salamanca Blue and Diamond Black, the car mimics the neon-lit aesthetic of a dark arcade hall. But look closer at the hand-painted Coachline and you’ll find the commission’s mascot: the “Cheeky Alien,” a green, 8-bit character composed of 89 individual pixels.

However, the real cheat codes are found inside. The interior has been designed as a hands-on game of exploration, filled with hidden Easter eggs. The tread-plates greet the driver with ‘INSERT COIN’, ‘PRESS START’ and ‘LEVEL UP’ in pixelated fonts. The seats are embroidered with Player 1 through Player 4, stitched in electric hues that mimic the flicker of a vintage CRT monitor against the Black and Casden Tan leather.

“This brief was particularly exciting,” says Joshua McCandless, the Bespoke Designer behind the project. “Over the course of a month, we immersed ourselves in the 8-bit aesthetic that defined late 70s and early 80s gaming. We wanted the client to feel that the motor car itself was an immersive experience – and that every time they stepped inside, it would recreate the same thrill they felt when they pressed ‘start’ on an arcade machine for the very first time.”

The roof, however, is on another level. The famous Starlight Headliner has been reprogrammed into a ‘Pixel Blaster’ formation. Instead of a silent night sky, the fibre-optic lights form 80-bitmapped battlecruisers and its signature shooting star feature is now re-coded to simulate laser fire pulsing across the ceiling. 

Even the craftsmanship gets a digital remix. The Waterfall between the rear seats features a hand-painted lunar landscape with stainless steel “flying saucers,” while hidden aliens are tucked away on the air vents and picnic tables, waiting to be discovered.

Delivered to a client who clearly believes that who dies with the highest score wins, the Black Badge Ghost Gamer proves that even the most serious luxury brand on Earth knows how to have fun.

Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of Rolls-Royce
words. Gennaro Costanzo

When Jaden Smith and luxury retail veteran Sebastian Manes (formerly of Selfridges)  launched Harper Collective, their goal was clear: to prove that high-end, desirable luggage could be made from recycled ocean materials. Now, they’ve found the perfect automotive counterpart to push that vision forward: the CUPRA Design House. 

The collaboration was born from a shared vision to “blend style and sustainability without losing edge,” crafting “better design for the future.” The two challenger brands have teamed up for a limited-edition, three-piece luggage collection that seamlessly merges their distinct identities.

The raw material is Harper Collective’s foundation, an eco-conscious shell crafted from recycled ocean plastic. This ‘trash’ is transformed into an exquisite, durable product, hand-finished by artisans in Birmingham, UK. It’s a process that embodies the philosophy of turning discarded materials into desirable luxury.

The aesthetic, however, is pure CUPRA. The luggage is defined by its brutalist design language and finished in the car brand’s unmistakable, matte-effect Century Bronze. This signature colour, pulled directly from their high-performance vehicles, gives the entire line an industrial, sharp edge that avoids any typical concessions to green design.

The automotive spirit is just as present in the details. The luggage features tactile, durable Ultrasuede accents, the same premium material used to finish the sporty, high-spec interiors of CUPRA’s vehicles.

The collection itself is built for contemporary travel, consisting of a Cabin (€785), a Cabin Expandable (€850) and a larger Trunk (€1050). By merging Harper’s material-first, sustainable mission with CUPRA’s striking design language, the collection makes a compelling case that durability, purposeful design and a clear conscience can, in fact, travel together.

The new luggage collection is available online and select retail stores (including Selfridges). 

photography. courtesy of Harper Collective, CUPRA
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Seek out the low tide in this Schön! editorial produced by photographer and stylist Cooper Pattison who styles and shoots model Marwang Lual in looks by Kenah Jonel and Entire Studios.

top. Kenah Jonel
trousers. Entire Studios

full look. Entire Studios
opposite
full look. Entire Studios

top. Kenah Jonel
trousers. Entire Studios

full look. Entire Studios
opposite
top. Kenah Jonel
trousers. Entire Studios

top. Kenah Jonel
trousers. Entire Studios

top. Kenah Jonel
opposite
top. Kenah Jonel
trousers. Entire Studios

top. Kenah Jonel
trousers. Entire Studios

full look. Entire Studios
opposite
full look. Entire Studios

top. Kenah Jonel
trousers. Entire Studios

full look. Entire Studios
opposite
top. Kenah Jonel
trousers. Entire Studios

This Schön! editorial has been produced by

direction, photography + fashion. Cooper Pattison
talent. Marwang Lual
dop + editing. Ryan Galvez
photography assistant. Chelsea Davies