Brands have always used famous faces to tempt us to but their products, some more successfully than others! Chances are you’re not going to be swayed to join an online poker site flogged by a z-list reality star, but if a brand pulls out all the stops for a collaboration, it’s safe to say you’re going to be interested. We’ve looked back at some of the most popular collaborations in the sportswear world. These partnerships aren’t just about someone wearing the clothes, these are proper collaborations between sportswear giants and famous faces that inspire them.
Bradley Wiggins/Fred Perry
Fred Perry is the adopted uniform of choice for mods, so it made sense that they would team up with Olympic Gold medallist and die hard mod, Bradley Wiggins, to create a vintage inspired collection. The collection fuses classic Fred Perry pieces with vintage cycling and sports details. There’s been 10 collections released by the partnership, a sign that there’s no shortage of demand for ‘Wiggo’. Speaking at the launch of the Fred Perry Seven Dials collection in 2013, Wiggins shared his admiration for the brand, “It’s a partnership I could only have dreamed of…..I have been a lifelong fan of the brand, stemming from my following and commitment to the mod movement and what I believe is Fred Perry’s unparalleled relationship with subculture. My goal has been to develop an authentic, non technical range of off cycle wear that is inspired by the best of the sport’s unique heritage – something I am hugely passionate about.”
Jeremy Scott/Adidas
The first of many Adidas collaborations in this list is the much lauded partnership with Jeremy Scott. The Missouri born designer got his big break working with Bjork in the 90s, although many critics wrote him off for creating clothes that no one would actually wear, he soon climbed the ladder to become the go-to designer for those looking for something a little outlandish. In 2008 Scott launched his collection of footwear and apparel with Adidas. The now iconic winged hi-tops and teddy pair shoes because instant hits with the public and celebrities alike with everyone from Kanye, Lil’ Wayne and Kid Cudi wearing his stand out sneakers. The relationship between Jeremy Scott and Adidas continues, with Madonna’s backing dancers in her Super Bowl halftime show wearing Jeremy Scott/Adidas Originals tracksuits and his first fragrance for Adidas debuting in 2015.
For those that like their style to turn heads, Jeremy Scott + Adidas is the dream partnership.
Adidas/Y-3
Back to Adidas and we’re looking at a collaboration that really revolutionized the sportswear industry. Renowned Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto brought his innovative fashion to the sportswear giant, creating futuristic designs that ‘defeat the ordinary’. The partnership has grown beyond sports footwear and apparel, taking it to new heights as they start to create prototype space suits for Virgin Galactic. The initial designs show a slick, streamlined suit that reflects the minimalistic approach of the Adidas Y-3 main line.
Y-3 and Virgin Galactic video
OVO/Canada Goose
October’s Very Own (OVO) is a clothing label founded by Mr Hotline Bling himself, Drake. Launched back in 2011 the label is known for creating outerwear, however has expanded into other menswear areas including t-shirts, basketball shorts and accessories. The rapper has collaborated with premium outerwear designer Canada Goose on a number of occasions, creating stylish lightweight jackets in black, khaki and camo prints. Canada Goose are known for creating coats and jackets that can withstand extreme weather and the collaboration with OVO has ensured they can also serve up extreme style.
Kanye West / Adidas
We’re back with the three stripes for our next collaboration. When is was announced that Yeezy was teaming up with Adidas, we knew that it wasn’t going to be an ordinary partnership. Whether you think Kanye is an innovative genius, or you tend to watch his latest outbursts with a sort of novelty curiosity, there’s no denying that when it comes to creativity - he’s at the top of his game. This collaboration is one of the most significant in Adidas history, with Yeezy branded clothing, footwear and accessories for all genders. By combining the technical expertise of Adidas with the forward thinking imagination of Kanye, the collection was (unsurprisingly) a huge hit - with many parting ways with huge chunks of cash to track down their ‘Yeezys’ through auction sites.
“These past two years adidas and YEEZY have given a glimpse into our future. This partnership illustrates that anyone with a dream can dream without limitations.” Kanye West
David Beckham/H&M
Although not ‘technically’ a sportswear collaboration, we couldn’t ignore the impact that Goldenballs had when he teamed up with highstreet favourite, H&M. His bodywear collection is partly responsible for the shift towards wearing ultra casualwear outside of the house. Sweatpants and tops used to be the outfit of choice for Sunday morning hangovers, lazing on the sofa watching Netflix and dreaming of McDonalds. Beckham evolved the idea, creating a line of bodywear that’s stylish enough to wear outside. With everyday clothing and of course, an underwear collection that was plastered on every billboard across the country, it’s casualwear that you won’t want to restrict to sofa days.
“I’m always trying to evolve the Bodywear collection, and include classic pieces like sweaters and track pants that I would wear out or at home," David Beckham
Michael Jordan/Nike
We end our list with, quite possibly, the most famous (and lucrative) partnership in sports history. Air Jordan is THE brand of basketball footwear and clothing created by Nike, endorsed by the one and only, Michael Jordan. Since the original Air Jordan I was released back in 1984, they’ve become the must have footwear for anyone looking to own a piece of sneaker history. Each pair of Air Jordans (we’re now at AJ XXXI) has evolved to incorporate the latest technical expertise for performance wear, however it’s the demand for older AJ styles that show how loved these shoes are. For every new release there’s thousands of bloggers waiting to deconstruct every last detail, from the colourways to the laces. This collaboration shows the impact of using someone at the top of their game, in this case the greatest basketball player in the world, to help enhance and innovate a brand. It’s an iconic combination and one that shows no sign of slowing.
The top 7 sportswear collaborations
Brands have always used famous faces to tempt us to but their products, some more successfully than others! Chances are you’re not going to be swayed to join an online poker site flogged by a z-list reality star, but if a brand pulls out all the stops for a collaboration, it’s safe to say you’re going to be interested. We’ve looked back at some of the most popular collaborations in the sportswear world. These partnerships aren’t just about someone wearing the clothes, these are proper collaborations between sportswear giants and famous faces that inspire them.
Bradley Wiggins/Fred Perry
Fred Perry is the adopted uniform of choice for mods, so it made sense that they would team up with Olympic Gold medallist and die hard mod, Bradley Wiggins, to create a vintage inspired collection. The collection fuses classic Fred Perry pieces with vintage cycling and sports details. There’s been 10 collections released by the partnership, a sign that there’s no shortage of demand for ‘Wiggo’. Speaking at the launch of the Fred Perry Seven Dials collection in 2013, Wiggins shared his admiration for the brand, “It’s a partnership I could only have dreamed of…..I have been a lifelong fan of the brand, stemming from my following and commitment to the mod movement and what I believe is Fred Perry’s unparalleled relationship with subculture. My goal has been to develop an authentic, non technical range of off cycle wear that is inspired by the best of the sport’s unique heritage – something I am hugely passionate about.”
Jeremy Scott/Adidas
The first of many Adidas collaborations in this list is the much lauded partnership with Jeremy Scott. The Missouri born designer got his big break working with Bjork in the 90s, although many critics wrote him off for creating clothes that no one would actually wear, he soon climbed the ladder to become the go-to designer for those looking for something a little outlandish. In 2008 Scott launched his collection of footwear and apparel with Adidas. The now iconic winged hi-tops and teddy pair shoes because instant hits with the public and celebrities alike with everyone from Kanye, Lil’ Wayne and Kid Cudi wearing his stand out sneakers. The relationship between Jeremy Scott and Adidas continues, with Madonna’s backing dancers in her Super Bowl halftime show wearing Jeremy Scott/Adidas Originals tracksuits and his first fragrance for Adidas debuting in 2015.
For those that like their style to turn heads, Jeremy Scott + Adidas is the dream partnership.
Adidas/Y-3
Back to Adidas and we’re looking at a collaboration that really revolutionized the sportswear industry. Renowned Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto brought his innovative fashion to the sportswear giant, creating futuristic designs that ‘defeat the ordinary’. The partnership has grown beyond sports footwear and apparel, taking it to new heights as they start to create prototype space suits for Virgin Galactic. The initial designs show a slick, streamlined suit that reflects the minimalistic approach of the Adidas Y-3 main line.
Y-3 and Virgin Galactic video
OVO/Canada Goose
October’s Very Own (OVO) is a clothing label founded by Mr Hotline Bling himself, Drake. Launched back in 2011 the label is known for creating outerwear, however has expanded into other menswear areas including t-shirts, basketball shorts and accessories. The rapper has collaborated with premium outerwear designer Canada Goose on a number of occasions, creating stylish lightweight jackets in black, khaki and camo prints. Canada Goose are known for creating coats and jackets that can withstand extreme weather and the collaboration with OVO has ensured they can also serve up extreme style.
Kanye West / Adidas
We’re back with the three stripes for our next collaboration. When is was announced that Yeezy was teaming up with Adidas, we knew that it wasn’t going to be an ordinary partnership. Whether you think Kanye is an innovative genius, or you tend to watch his latest outbursts with a sort of novelty curiosity, there’s no denying that when it comes to creativity - he’s at the top of his game. This collaboration is one of the most significant in Adidas history, with Yeezy branded clothing, footwear and accessories for all genders. By combining the technical expertise of Adidas with the forward thinking imagination of Kanye, the collection was (unsurprisingly) a huge hit - with many parting ways with huge chunks of cash to track down their ‘Yeezys’ through auction sites.
“These past two years adidas and YEEZY have given a glimpse into our future. This partnership illustrates that anyone with a dream can dream without limitations.” Kanye West
David Beckham/H&M
Although not ‘technically’ a sportswear collaboration, we couldn’t ignore the impact that Goldenballs had when he teamed up with highstreet favourite, H&M. His bodywear collection is partly responsible for the shift towards wearing ultra casualwear outside of the house. Sweatpants and tops used to be the outfit of choice for Sunday morning hangovers, lazing on the sofa watching Netflix and dreaming of McDonalds. Beckham evolved the idea, creating a line of bodywear that’s stylish enough to wear outside. With everyday clothing and of course, an underwear collection that was plastered on every billboard across the country, it’s casualwear that you won’t want to restrict to sofa days.
“I’m always trying to evolve the Bodywear collection, and include classic pieces like sweaters and track pants that I would wear out or at home," David Beckham
Michael Jordan/Nike
We end our list with, quite possibly, the most famous (and lucrative) partnership in sports history. Air Jordan is THE brand of basketball footwear and clothing created by Nike, endorsed by the one and only, Michael Jordan. Since the original Air Jordan I was released back in 1984, they’ve become the must have footwear for anyone looking to own a piece of sneaker history. Each pair of Air Jordans (we’re now at AJ XXXI) has evolved to incorporate the latest technical expertise for performance wear, however it’s the demand for older AJ styles that show how loved these shoes are. For every new release there’s thousands of bloggers waiting to deconstruct every last detail, from the colourways to the laces. This collaboration shows the impact of using someone at the top of their game, in this case the greatest basketball player in the world, to help enhance and innovate a brand. It’s an iconic combination and one that shows no sign of slowing.