In the Age of Hype - TOP 10 Sportswear collaborations

“If you’re not doing them, you’re crazy”

As we have discussed in our article TIME TO COLLABORATE earlier, collaboration is key for future success, characterized by increasing complexity and blurring of industry borders. When it comes to fashion, collaborations allow brands to flex creative muscle and build around communities. Brands partner with other brands, designers, artists, social media stars, retailers, and etc., to create designs never conceived of before. Collabs sometimes display technical innovation but most often place aesthetics at the forefront.

Let’s take a look at TOP 10 most inspiring sportswear collaborations in the age of hype:

1.     MONCLER GENIUS COLLABORATIONS 2020

Ever since the first Moncler Genius project, the luxury brand has revolutionised the way of releasing new (and exciting) products. For the past two years, the critically-acclaimed fashion project—with its motto “One House, Different Voices”—has collaborated with different designers to release individual capsule collections throughout the calendar year on a semi-monthly basis. Now in its third year, Moncler Genius brings back some of its legacy designers such as Craig Green, Simone Rocha, and Hiroshi Fujiwara; while welcoming exciting newcomers including JW Anderson, RIMOWA and MATE.BIKE.

Craig Green's most recent designs for Moncler Genius

2.     ADIDAS X NEIBORHOOD FW19

Following collaborations with Wood Wood and Universal Works, the German giant adidas has teamed up with the Japanese label NEIGHBORHOOD to continue its Fall/Winter 2019 Run City pack series. Coming together once again, the latest collaboration channels the black-centric sensibility tied to Shinsuke Takizawa‘s iconic Japanese streetwear label.

Leading the special range is the previously revealed logo-filled take on the UltraBOOST 19 and UltraBOOST ATR marked with a contrast triangular geometric print. Accompanying accessories include a windbreaker jacket, long sleeve compression shirt, T-shirt, compression tights, shorts, running mask and gloves. Utilizing a black base, the selection of apparel is defined by the bold use of reflective materials against NEIGHBORHOOD’s original night camo pattern.

Adidas x Neiborhood FW19 Run City pack Full look

3.     RAPHA X OUTDOOR VOICES 2020

Rapha has teamed up with American technical activewear maker Outdoor Voices to create a new line of women’s cycling kit blending fun and colorful style with functional performance.

Featuring nine pieces of women’s kit, the line includes a jersey, wind jacket, high-waisted shorts, cargo bib shorts, bar bag, light-support bra, cap, socks, and a cropped T-shirt. The products offer a blend of Rapha’s high-quality cycling-specific technology and Outdoor Voices’s practical, vibrant style. Overall, the pieces are more fun and approachable to women who are new to riding or who have a less-serious approach to bike fashion.

Rapha x Outdoor Voices

4.     BYBORRE X DESCENTE FW19

BYBORRE has reworked DESCENTE ALLTERRAIN‘s high-spec Mizusawa Down Mountaineer Jacket with its innovative BYBORRE INSIDE knit for Fall/Winter 2019.

The technological fabrication uses BYBORRE’s signature On-Pattern 3D knit, which creates space in between the jacket liner and the underneath layer. As a result, heat is trapped where needed while airflow is optimized in targeted areas around the jacket. The duo has also incorporated Meryl nylon yarns which gives the liner fabric unparalleled levels of breathability, elasticity and a soft-feel finish, as well as an outer shell made from Dermizax FlexileMatte 4 way Stretch.

Byborre x Descente

5.     LULULEMON X ROKSANDA FW20

To expand its horizon from yoga and activewear to high fashion, Canadian brand Lululemon has joined forces with Roksanda for two capsules. Serbian designer Roksanda Ilinčić fuses her bold, feminine aesthetic with classic designs from the label best known for its yoga pants.

Comprised of 16 items, proportions are exaggerated to create voluminous silhouettes and sculptural shapes. Color-blocking is seen throughout the entire collection in shades like “Hibiscus,” “Violet,” “Sienna” and “Rich Midnight,” all crafted with Lululemon’s signature sweat-ready materials.

Lululemon x Roksanda

6.     SUPREME X STONE ISLAND SS19

Supreme’s propensity to collaborate is undeniable. The collaborations are coveted for their rarity and collectibility. In the time since appropriation has become collaboration, Supreme’s worked with both likely collaborators (skate brands and sportswear companies) as well as some unlikely collaborators (Louis Vuitton and Brooks Brothers).

Supreme and Italian techwear giant Stone Island have been linking up since 2014, and this latest collection is yet further proof why the collaboration works. The new SS19 range draws on both brands’ attention to technical details for a subtle collection.

Key Pieces: The New Silk Light Jacket is a must-cop, constructed using a glossy, finely shaded polyurethane coating applied to a similarly shiny nylon substrate. The technical jacket is sure to withstand both the elements and the test of time.

Supreme x Stone Island

7.     Off-White x Burton x Vogue 2018

Off-White’s Virgil Abloh, also known as king of collabs, Vogue Magazine’s Selby Drummond and Burton’s Creative Director at Large, Greg Dacyshyn collaborated to create has a chic range of snowboarding performance wear for women. Offering up ten pieces in all, the co-branded capsule ties together Off-White’s signature deconstructive design and Burton’s technical nous, with Drummond playing creative muse.

Off-White x Burton x Vogue

8.     FJÄLLRÄVEN X ACNE STUDIOS FW19

After revealing its full selection of Fall/Winter 2018 sneakers, Swedish label Acne Studios has unveiled a collaboration with Fjällräven. The joint capsule marks the first time that Fjällräven has ever worked with another brand, and sees Acne Studios rework everything from outerwear and trousers to the brand’s signature Kånken backpacks.

The collaboration is seen by the two brands as a celebration of their Swedish identity, with the country’s blue-and-yellow flag featuring prominently throughout the collection. Other features include new collaborative branding, fake fur trims and a brightly-colored camouflage pattern. The collection celebrates Fjällräven’s outdoor heritage with T-shirts depicting hiking scenes and functional pieces such as trousers with zip-off legs (www.hypebeast.com).

Fjällräven x Acne Studios

9.     HYKE X THE NORTH FACE FW19

Fall/Winter 2019 marks the fourth and final collaborative collection between outdoor giant The North Face and cult Japanese label HYKE. Encompassing a wide array of function-driven pieces, HYKE x The North Face FW19 repurposes several staples from past offerings while retaining the core motifs that HYKE upholds in each collection. Clean lines and a minimalist palette of olive drab, black and beige informs the drop, which features clothes for both men and women, from fuzzy coats to weather-resistant trousers to insulating Nuptse shoes. Boxy pullovers showcase bold white TNF branding, while “Monster” parkas and hooded coats are realized with dangling straps and GORE-TEX lining, suitably complementing the drawstring-imbued trousers and puffy neck gaitors.

HYKE x The North Face

10.  PEAK PERFORMANCE X BEN GORHAM SS20

On a mission to empower people to be more active and experience the outdoors, Peak Performance teamed up with avid surfer, outdoor enthusiast and the founder of luxury brand Byredo, Ben Gorham. The collaboration resulted in a unisex, multi-functional outdoor collection called “Possessions Of My Soul”. It features multi-purpose, unisex and well-made pieces.

Peak Performance x Ben Gorham

Information sources: www.hypebeast.com, www.highsnobiety.com, www.hypebae.com

About LTP

LTP is a Danish owned garment manufacturer for +60 premium brands within active sportswear, outdoor, urban performance, athleisure and sustainable fashion. LTP was established in 1991, and is probably the biggest Sport & Outdoor garment manufacturer in Europe with bluesign setups in Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Vietnam

LTP consists of two divisions; LTP Garment and LTP Contract Furniture producing in nine fully-owned factories.