# $13,000 Blue Basketballs This Hermès Special Edition Basketball Costs Thousands By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2013-08-21 | Luxury Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/special-edition-basketball References: [designtaxi](http://designtaxi.com/news/360092/Herm-s-Debuts-A-Basketball-That-Costs-Almost-US-13-000/) & [huhmagazine](http://www.huhmagazine.co.uk/5530/hermès-basketball) Hermès’ released a special edition basketball to coincide with the re-opening of the boutique in Beverly Hills. The basketball is an exorbitantly priced $12,900, which is quite a pretty penny to pay for a piece of sporting equipment. So far, only two of these special edition basketballs have been made, although they can be ordered. The calfskin leather ball is hand-stitched, like the iconic [Birkin](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birkin-bag) bag. Blue seems like an odd color for a basketball, but it is meant to pay tribute to California’s beautiful water and skies. Hermès’ American CEO Robert Chavez assures that the ball can be used on a court like a regular basketball. However, considering the steep price of this basketball and the iconic brand name it bears, it might be better to keep it off the court. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 37% | Activity: 79% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxury) > [Ultra Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/ultraluxury) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Luxury Sporting Equipment:** There is a growing trend of luxury brands creating high-end and exorbitantly priced sporting equipment, providing an opportunity for disruptive innovation in this niche market. - **Limited Edition Collectibles:** Limited edition collectibles, such as this special edition basketball from Hermès, offer a unique opportunity for brands to create exclusive products with high value and scarcity. - **Blurring Boundaries:** The blurring of boundaries between fashion, luxury, and sports presents an opportunity for innovative collaborations and products that cater to consumers looking for both style and performance. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Luxury Goods:** The luxury goods industry can explore collaborations with sports brands to create high-end sporting equipment that appeals to affluent consumers seeking luxury in all aspects of their lives. - **Collectibles:** The collectibles industry can tap into the demand for limited edition and exclusive products, providing opportunities for collaborations with luxury brands to create unique collectible items in various categories. - **Fashion and Sports:** The intersection of fashion and sports presents an opportunity for brands in both industries to collaborate and create innovative products that combine style and performance, targeting fashion-conscious sports enthusiasts. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Luxurious Sporting Statement Pieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/offwhite-co-wilson.md) - [3D-Printed Sports Balls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wilson-sports-goods-co.md) - [Airless 3D-Printed Basketballs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gen1-basketball.md) - [Science Fiction Sports Equipment](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spalding-x-stranger-things.md) - [Artist-Inspired Dynamic Basketballs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/round21.md) - [Vibrant Graphic Basketballs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dragon-skull-basketball.md) - [Sci-Fi Show-Themed Basketballs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spalding-1.md) - [Basketball-Shaped Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-baller.md) - [Intricate Basketball Shaped Bottles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lorenz-bumer.md)