In case you are living in a cave deep in the Himalayas and haven’t noticed it, Credit Suisse is dead. Only three months after our worst performance in memories at the FIFA world cup against Portugal, Switzerland sees its reputation being again butchered on the global stage. The last time such a seismic event happened was the grounding of Swissair in 2002, although 2008 was also a close call. Beyond the political questions surrounding how the situation was handled, in just a couple of days, by selling it to its biggest competitor through the droit d’urgence (bypassing the COMCO, Credit Suisse’s shareholders, and the parliament), a new phenomenon has appeared. Like with the Black Eyed Peas, selective nostalgia has kicked in that makes us look rather fond of the past. The adjective “selective” is crucial here. The Black Eyed Peas gave the world two great albums (Elephunk in 2003 and Monkey Business in 2005) and a few party anthems between 2009 and 2011, but that’s it. If you do not think the rest of their discography is completely forgettable, I dare you to quote any of the three albums they have released in the last five years. The same applies to Credit Suisse. Despite being a respected institution with a 167-year history, and a sponsor of many events in Switzerland, it was in the news only for the wrong reasons in the last decade. There were too many scandals to keep track of in the newspaper. After announcing its acquisition by UBS, the press coldly reacted by stating that “at least Switzerland liquidated its zombie bank”. Whether those opinions are overblown or unjustified will be left to decide by experts thoroughly analysing the unravelling of events in the coming years. What is important now is to look at how the merchandise from Credit Suisse has suddenly captured the eyes of the Swiss people. Therefore, here is a non-exhaustive list of available merchandise from Credit Suisse with Prisma’s opinion.
CS merch on Ricardo
Firstly comes the white, red, and blue ski hat. The beanie was launched in 1977 when 800,000 pieces had been freely distributed. The CS initials stand for Credit Suisse, while the SKA is the acronym of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt AG. Since last weekend the hat started to trade heavily on second-hand websites, even passing the 200 CHF bar. Although its design is not innovative or even especially pretty, its time-tested quality, historical value, and popularity in ski clubs make it a delicious retro item for your next winter adventures.
CS Bag, Cap, Headband
To complete your look, other items are available in the same design palette. However, be wary of their quality. Used sports bags that were on sale appeared dirty in pictures and with worn-out textiles. We also must recommend against the cap. You might be tempted to get it to complete the look, but it just does not look good. The same applies to the wristband. Why would you buy it if you cannot take it on your ski trip?
Moreover, to complete the look, we must recommend those last three items. First, the ashtray is perfect for the après-ski on the terrace and can be used as a flower pot, if you do not smoke. The Swiss army knife always carries one if you go hiking, skiing or any exterior activity in general, as it comes in handy. Finally, the Credit Suisse jacket will complete the look with the beanie.
CS Gold
Moving to a more ostentatious item, gold bars. Available in different sizes and from different epochs, there will be a gold bar available for every budget. The looming question is, of course, what for? Well, this is the kind of object that will be a funny point of conversation for your friends and family visiting your house once framed and adequately displayed.
CS Umbrella
We felt compelled to mention this Credit Suisse Umbrella, although it is not particularly special, and the logo is barely visible, for the simple reason that its starting bidding price on ricardo.ch was a swooping 5,000 CHF. The final piece of memorabilia we present to you might be the best and carry a unique comedic signature for the upcoming weeks.
CS Risk Intern 2023 Cap
The 2023 Credit Suisse Risk Management Intern is the funniest item we found online. For a mere 35 CHF on the website Tutti.ch, you can become the owner of this fantastic item. The cap even appears to be available in five colours.
Among all the items non-present on this list is everything related to the Swiss football team, as Credit Suisse was a sponsor. All the tote bags and coffee cups that Credit Suisse distributed throughout the years at events remain a classic to be cherished for the upcoming years. Finally, it must be noted that if Credit Suisse is ending as an independent organisation, the brand’s future remains unknown. It is possible that it does not get discontinued and, for everyone’s happiness, continue to produce beloved goodies.