For more than five decades, the Pirelli Calendar has existed in a space few commercial projects ever reach — part fashion artifact, part photographic time capsule. It isn’t sold, it isn’t advertised, and yet it remains one of the most recognizable creative collaborations in the world.
To mark the lead-up to its 2017 edition, Pirelli quietly launched a behind-the-scenes digital experience that documents how the calendar actually comes together — from early concepts and location scouting to the final frames that never make the cut. It’s a rare look at the process behind an object that’s usually defined only by the finished images.
The site places particular focus on the work of legendary German photographer Peter Lindbergh, tracing the creative decisions and human moments that shape each edition. Beyond photography, it also explores the broader cultural pull of the calendar through interviews and archival material tied to fashion, sport, music, and design.
For a project that has always thrived on mystique, this is an unusually open — and welcome — glimpse behind the lens.
