New Jimmy Chin/Jared Leto collaboration for Gucci and North Face ad. Leto climbs that hard?!

I'm sure there will be much discussion in the climbing community about the Gucci/NF collab, but the REAL question is was there some serious photoshop magic going on with the "ropeless shots"?

HughC wrote:

I'm sure there will be much discussion in the climbing community about the Gucci/NF collab, but the REAL question is was there some serious photoshop magic going on with the "ropeless shots"?

You mean the ones on Headstone Rock? Yes, totally photoshopped away the top rope. You can see the rope going from his harness and up but then it just ends. There's an anchor on the top right there. Also possible that there was someone belaying from the top who also got photoshopped out. 

do you even climb bro? 

I love some Jimmy and I know its a paycheck but *cringe af*   fake posed climbing trying to look cool, photo shopped out the ropes and belay buddy and.. did Alex refuse the project?  atleast he climbs 

Really?! Gucci ?!  Which demographic are we trying to drag in which direction with this collab?! 

Climbers are going to spend double for a beanie to say Gucci on it or are the Gucci crowd coming to wear outdoor gear???  Sorry not feeling that. 

Feral Human wrote:

Climbers are going to spend double for a beanie to say Gucci on it or are the Gucci crowd coming to wear outdoor gear???  Sorry not feeling that. 

I think you're misunderstanding the Gucci marketing strategy. They're not trying to sell $1,000 beanies to climbers. They're trying to sell $1,000 beanies to non-climbers who want to look cool like Jared Leto. Have you ever SEEN the people who wear Gucci? 

Gucci is cool stuff.  Don't take their freaky advertising seriously.  It's high fashion.  Freak-show stuff.  Grabs attention.  Good for Jimmy. The bigger he gets, the more climbers he can hire to play his games.  A river of cash into the climbing community.

I’m sure Gucci had some weird liability clauses.  I recall an elite female climber had to top rope routes for an ad for some non climbing company. 

Feral Human wrote:

do you even climb bro? 

Really?! Gucci ?!  Which demographic are we trying to drag in which direction with this 

You realize that Jerry Garcia wore Gucci loafers/slippers  on stage, right?

Seems to me plenty of pro climbers make their money as models who climb. So what? 

Funny story - I did not know who Jared Leto is, had to look him up.

Not defending the ad at all, which I agree is cringworthy, but Jared does have a history of interest in climbing and this was not a one off gig.  He's done tons of multipitch with Alex and Jimmy with no strings attached for advertising products.  He also did the "great wide open" series which puts Alex, Sasha, Tommy, others as a focal point.  I think he leads mid-ten sport, has maybe led a bit of trad, and hasn't been deterred from following trad.  He took a whip following some route in red rocks with Alex and nearly sliced his rope in half on an edge.  Not sure what route.   

this video kind of makes me embarrassed for jimmy.

Leto is pretty legit as a climber, he's followed Alex on some 11d, and done a fair bit of trad leads up to maybe 5.10. north face always does these goofy crossovers. Gucci is for yuppies but that beanie DOES look comfy af

You guys are crazy.  Jimmy had an opportunity to do something completely out of his wheel house and took the chance (plus the pay was probably great).  I applaud him for that.  

Gotta earn a paycheck. The pure as the driven snow legends of the dirtbag pantheon, Ron Kauk and John Bachar, hawked Ford Broncos and Bic Razors on network TV, while Bridwell was sponsored by none other than Phillip Morris. Good for Jimmy. 

Feral Human wrote:

did Alex refuse the project?  atleast he climbs 

I know were a climbing forum and therefore in a bubble but lets not pretend Honnold is more famous than Leto.

Good on Jimmy for securing the bag. The photos are aesthetically cool, and youre not going to see any Gucci at your local crag any time soon (and even if you do, does this change your ability to send?)

Climbers are greedy and always have been. They are just people too despite what we think...

Frank Stein wrote:

..... while Bridwell was sponsored by none other than Phillip Morris. 

Now that is old school!

Clea T Royal wrote:

Got any more info on Bridwell’s Phillip Morris sponsorship? Would love to read/see more on that.

I believe that was his sponsor for the Borneo trip he took with Long. 

There you go...

Does this mean we can't call Patagonia "Patagucci" any more?

Its marketing get over it. However, the "rope solo" editing is dangerous at best, cheesy at worst.

Climbers are weird. Each and every person in this thread would accept 2k to stand in the background of some fashion photo shoot at a crag. So why do we hate on Jimmy for using his skills to further his career and better do what he loves?