The Ritz-Carlton and Late Checkout Unveil : Chapter Two
The Ritz-Carlton and Madrid's Late Checkout are back with Chapter II—a significantly expanded follow-up to their Gold Cannes Lions-winning debut. What began as a clever fusion of luxury hospitality and streetwear attitude has grown into a proper lifestyle range: accessories, loungewear, kidswear, and home goods.
The collection leans into contrast—velvet varsity jackets with embroidered detailing, tuxedo-cut robes, lightweight knits bearing the Ritz lion crest, and pieces that sit somewhere between high craft and laid-back comfort. It's hotel iconography reimagined through Late Checkout's irreverent lens.
The campaign was shot at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, with Josh Hutcherson as the lead. Directed by Rogelio González and produced by Little Spain, the film plays with surreal, borderline dreamlike scenarios—visually composed with Wes Anderson-style symmetry but grounded in understated humor. Hutcherson brings a low-key energy that works well against the cinematic framing.
It's a smart evolution from capsule to collection, rooted in the tension between tradition and playfulness that made the first chapter resonate.
Q&A: Alex Turrión, Creative Director of Late Checkout
1. What inspired the navy, white/cream, and light blue palette throughout the collection, and what mood or feeling did you hope to evoke with these colors?
“We always thought of this second collection as an organic continuation of the first. Once again, we wanted to honor The Ritz-Carlton’s heritage and its colors, so we introduced the classic light blue—a Ritz-Carlton icon—and gave greater importance to navy, while balancing it with the ivory white we always use in our collections and that was a main character in the first one. I feel we achieved a solid and wearable palette that is also bold and playful, and I truly believe this collection went a step further than the first one.”
2. What inspired the new globe motif found throughout the collection? What does this logo represent?
“We are big fans of vintage clothing, and it always influences our collections and designs. As we were planning to shoot the campaign in Nikko, we felt strongly that this collection needed to include a souvenir jacket, a sukajan. It became our personal homage to these incredible works of art, conceived as a special souvenir from our journey with the Ritz-Carlton. Late Checkout’s narrative always revolves around hotels, and since traveling is inherent to them, I think this globe logo represents a spirit of constant movement and evolution—like when, at the end of a great trip, you’re already imagining the next destination.”
3. What made Japan feel like the right cultural touchstone for this collaboration?
“Our first campaign took place in Hong Kong. It was fun, chaotic, and captured the energy and stress of a big city. For this second chapter, we wanted a twist. We aimed to convey calm—a journey to find yourself, a search for balance. The first time I traveled to Japan, about ten years ago, I went to Nikko. I remember it as something magical, and if we’ve managed to transmit even a fraction of that feeling through this second chapter, it will feel like closing a full circle!”
4. Which pieces in the collection reflect Japan as a source of inspiration?
“The sukajan, of course!”
5 & 6. The collection was designed with the traveler in mind. How did you capture the spirit of exploration and luxury hospitality in everyday wear? / How did you strike the balance between elevated design and the comfort people crave while on the move?
“I think our clothes always have a good balance between comfort and making a statement. We love paying attention to detail—not only the small ones like zippers, buttons, and embroideries, but also the fabrics we choose and the fit of our clothes. They have to feel special, yet at the same time, super comfortable and wearable. It’s similar to luxury hotels: you want them to feel unique and elevated, but comfort and ease are essential to enjoying the full experience.”
7. How did the partnership between The Ritz-Carlton and Late Checkout push the creative vision of this collection forward?
“Collaborating with a brand like The Ritz-Carlton allows us to think bigger than we usually do. They trust our vision, and we respect their codes and ethos, so the result is an organic collaboration where everyone pushes for the best.”
