You’ve probably seen it happen, two completely different brands come together, and suddenly, the internet explodes. 

Whether it’s your favorite influencer partnering with a snack company or a fashion brand dropping a product with a fast-food chain, these kinds of unexpected duos stop people mid-scroll.

In the world of marketing, we call these brand collaborations and the best ones feel so random they shouldn’t work… but somehow, they totally do! 

So what makes a brand collab actually break the internet? It’s not just aesthetics or a famous name. The best ones tap into culture, spark emotion, and make people feel like they’re part of a moment. Let’s dive into seven brand partnerships that did just that, and why they worked. 

Pinterest x Chamberlain Coffee

If Pinterest had a vibe, it would be a photo of ocean waves and sea salt toffee. 

For its first-ever brand collaboration, Pinterest teamed up with Chamberlain Coffee to create a Sea Salt Caramel blend inspired by the platform’s “Fisherman Chic” aesthetic. Emma Chamberlain herself designed the limited-edition coffee, which was available at her LA café, alongside an exclusive Pinterest-branded latte. 

This wasn’t just about caffeine, it was about cultural synergy. Both Pinterest and Chamberlain Coffee represent taste-driven, visual-first lifestyles. The collab turned Pinterest from a passive platform into an IRL experience, while giving Emma’s brand even more cultural credibility. 

The partnership was Pinterest’s way of showing they don’t just spot trends, they start them. And teaming up with a Gen Z internet icon? Smart move! 

Bad Bunny x Calvin Klein

Next up is a collab that had the internet on FIRE! 

Bad Bunny isn’t new to fashion, but this one had people refreshing their feed.

Earlier this year, he became the face of Calvin Klein’s underwear campaign, photographed in his home in Puerto Rico. The photos? Iconic!

This brand collaboration blew up online, earning over $8 million in media value in just 48 hours. 

But it wasn’t just about selling underwear, this was a statement about identity. Calvin Klein positioned itself as more than just a heritage brand, it embraced culture, vulnerability, and representation. 

Adanola x Kendall Jenner

While Bad bunny made waves in fashion, another quiet-luxury collab made its mark through subtlety.

Adanola, the minimal activewear brand with a cult following, tapped Kendall Jenner for a clean, curated drop that embodied the “model-off-duty” aesthetic. 

This brand collaboration gave fans something new without feeling out of place, and it sold out almost immediately. 

The limited launch kept things exclusive, and the buzz was amplified through Kendall’s social media presence. 

Rhode x Krispy Kreme

Now let’s shift gears into something sweet, and totally unexpected.

What do lip gloss and donuts have in common? 

Apparently, a lot. Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand, Rhode, teamed up with Krispy Kreme to drop a new “Peptide Lip Treatment” inspired by the donut brand’s Strawberry Glazed flavor and Haliey Bieber's Strawberry makeup look. 

At the same time, Krispy Kreme brought back the strawberry donut for a limited run.

This brand collaboration was all about aesthetic overload, pink packaging, glossy lips, and sugary treats. The internet ate it up!

Fans loved that the collab didn’t take itself too seriously. It was playful, perfectly on-brand for Hailey, and visually viral. Sometimes, that’s all people want. 

Uber x Spotify 

Let’s take it back to a tech crossover that changed the way people ride.

Uber and Spotify teamed up to allow users to connect their Spotify accounts and DJ their own ride.

Suddenly, a ride felt more personal. People talked about it. Some even chose Uber over competitors because of it. 

This brand collaboration stood out because it solved a simple problem: riding in silence, or worse, listening to music you hated.

Sometimes, the best collaborations are the ones that just make life easier.

GoPro x Red Bull 

Next, let’s go big. Really big. 

GoPro and Red Bull have collaborated for years, but the most unforgettable moment came during the Red Bull Stratos Jump in 2012. Felix Baumgartner leapt from 128,000 feet above Earth, with GoPro Cameras capturing every second. 

The result? One of the most-watched live events of all time and footage that’s still talked about today. 

GoPro and Red Bull weren't just promoting gear or energy drinks. They were building a feeling, adrenaline, and pushing limits. This brand collaboration showed what happens when content, tech, and thrill-seeking collide in the best way possible.  

Michael Jordan x Nike

Let’s end with the collab that changed everything.

In 1984, Nike took the chance on a young basketball player named Michael Jordan. The result? Air Jordans. 

This is arguably the most successful brand collaboration of all time. 

More than sneakers, Air Jordans became cultural icons, representing music, sports, fashion, and identity for generations. 

Even decades later, the demand hasn’t slowed. 

Why Brand Collaborations Work

So what’s the secret sauce behind these viral moments? 

Most of the brand collaborations had one thing in common: they didn’t feel forced.

They made sense in a weird, cool, “of course they did that” kind of way. The brands involved knew their audiences and found creative ways to merge. 

All of these collaborations did more than pair two names together, they created synergy. Some were emotional. Others were purely visual. A few solved problems. But all of them sparked conversation.  

Whether it was through aesthetic alignment or shared values, these partnerships gave both brands a chance to shine. 

The Power of Storytelling in Collabs

Another reason these brand collaborations worked? They told a story.

Chamberlain Coffee helped Pinterest tell a trend-forward narrative. Bad Bunny told a story about self-expression and representation. 

And let’s be real, when Hailey and Kendall show up together at Coachella to promote their own brands? That’s storytelling and star power in one frame.

When the message feels intentional, the result is something people want to share, not just scroll past. 

A Match Made in Heaven 

Think about what would make someone pause. What kind of moment would you want to be part of? 

Brand collaborations work best when they’re honest, creative, and most importantly memorable.

So whether you’re planning your own partnership or just watching them unfold online, keep this in mind: the most unexpected duos are the ones that stick with us the longest. 

✍️ Written by Emely Camarena