Last year saw the launch of Montblanc’s What Moves You Makes You campaign, the mission of which was to laud those who live their lives guided by intuition rather than rules, defying convention for the greater good of self actualization. The company enlisted writer and director Spike Lee, actor Taron Egerton, actor and writer Chen Kun and actress Xin Zhi Lei to bring this meaningful message to life via a series of films, print media and social content.
This year, Montblanc is engaging actor Cillian Murphy and international DJ and entrepreneur Peggy Gou to furnish the faces—and the spirit—of the brand campaign, which was created by Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam.
“Cillian and Peggy are both ‘Mark Makers,’ inspiring individuals who embody the ethos of Montblanc,” says Vincent Montalescot, Montblanc executive vice president of marketing. “They are both living proof that when you do what inspires you with audacity and creativity, you lead a more fulfilling life.”
They leave their mark on the world through their artistry and creativity, he adds, always driven by their passions and a higher purpose.
“Emotion of the story is the thing that is key for me,” says Murphy, whose numerous credits include the acclaimed TV series Peaky Blinders. “If I don’t feel altered by the story and the truth of the performance, then it hasn’t worked for me as a performer and a viewer.”
Gou concurs, explaining, “Something should move you to be better. To do better. If you don‘t feel that, I feel like you are in a safe zone and you should find something that moves you. Always.”
In a series of short films created by Montblanc, she offers a satirical twist on a classic Q & A and becomes both the interviewer and the interviewee, inventively revealing her many facets.
Montblanc’s UltraBlack Collection
The new What Moves You Makes You campaign coincides with the presentation of Montblanc’s UltraBlack Collection—a cross-category array in the foundational color that launched the German brand’s earliest pens. The collection includes leather goods, watches, headphones and, of course, writing instruments, each elegantly stark in hue and functionally modern in design.
“Black is the maison’s essence and is core to the brand’s identity, even as it evolved over the years to become the Maison of Luxury Business Lifestyle,” says Montblanc CEO Nicolas Baretzki. “The pieces and their functionality, while unified by their black design, were carefully selected based on the everyday needs and mindset of those who don’t just strive to succeed, but who leave a mark with everything they do, always with meaning and purpose.”
The leather collection includes a backpack, a clutch and a mini folio in leather, embossed with an “M” pattern inspired by the lettering of graphics from the Montblanc archives. Anodized aluminum closures display the iconic Montblanc snowcap emblem.
The 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack timepiece features the Manufacture Worldtime complication with two turning domed hemisphere globes that make a full rotation in 24 hours, providing an instinctive way of reading varying time zones. It comes in a black-coated steel case with a special satin finishing. The collection also includes a Summit Lite smartwatch with an embossed leather strap and a black dial with the “M” décor.
The all-black wireless headphones within the collection feature the “M” design, while Montblanc’s popular Augmented Paper device and notepad is here held inside a black leather envelope, also decorated with the omnipresent “M.” This ingenious device—one I wouldn’t be without—makes it possible to transfer notes written by hand to a digital version of same.
As for pens, the Montblanc StarWalker UltraBlack lineup includes a matte-black resin edition and a Doué edition. Each is available as a fountain pen ballpoint and fineliner.
