You’ve seen it everywhere and worn by everyone (including convertee Kimmy KW via Kanye) from the gym to the bar, from streets to the runways and back again. The sports luxe movement is in full swing and luxury sportswear collabs are cashing in with some extremely lucrative collections.
The first luxury sportswear collab was introduced in 1998, with a partnership between Jil Sander and Adidas. Since then, a myriad of collabs have taken place between sports brands and luxury fashion houses. Here are a few of our favourites.
Adidas x Gucci
The latest offering from Gucci’s creative genius Alessansdro Michele is an exercise (excuse the pun) in what a true luxury sportswear collab looks like. Reportedly, Michele is an enthusiast of adidas’ Gazelle sneakers so the fresh adidas x Gucci collab has the vibe of natural creative synergy, as the sporty retro glamour resonates with the designer’s emotion for the past. Initially debuted at Gucci’s Milan show last September, the collection that features vibrant colours and fuses the two ionic logos will drop in stores and online on June 7.
Fenty x Puma
Fenty Puma is a collaborative line of activewear clothes between Puma and singer Rihanna that you can work, work, work, work, work, work.
Rihanna became Puma’s creative director of fashion sportswear in 2014 — perhaps planting the seed for her FENTY empire. A full clothing line was then debuted for SS16 at New York Fashion Week.
Adidas by Stella McCartney
Adidas by Stella McCartney is the ultimate chic activewear brand for fashion-forward women. This highly successful long-term collaboration between the fashion designer and sportswear giant continues to hit the mark. Bold hues and prints, high-quality and high-performance fabrics, and elegant silhouettes all work with McCartney’s environmentally conscious ethos. Supermodel Karlie Kloss is the face of the successful brand.
Puma x Karl Lagerfeld
The collaboration between the German sportswear giant Puma and the late Karl Lagerfeld merges timeless classics with a modern, luxury edge.
Reebok x Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham x Reebok has been around for a few collections now. Since its debut line — that featured a homage to nineties NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal — the designer has drawn inspiration from streetwear, her daily exercise routine, and experience of a trained dancer. VB marries “performance with style”, which means refined tailoring and generally better quality clothing.
Prada x Adidas
Prada and Adidas have joined forces to start a new collaborative journey to “investigate the realms of heritage, technology and innovation – and to challenge conventional wisdom through unexpected strategies,” according to an official statement by the brands.
Dior x Nike
Is this the epitome of luxury sportswear collabs? Nike and Dior teamed up with musician Travis Scott to create the”Air Dior” Collection. In addition to “Dior” Air Jordan 1 Highs and Lows, the capsule features a range of sportswear apparel and accessories in a palette of navy, white and Dior grey, inspired by Michael Jordan’s 80s sportswear aesthetic. The release is set for April 2020 at select Dior stores and pop-ups.
Swarovski x Nike
Nike celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Air Max 97s in 2017 by blinging-out the shoe in Swarovski crystals across the uppers. The “Metallic Gold” Air Max 97 contains approximately 55,690 Swarovski crystals on the uppers. Adding more flair is the red Swoosh branding on the tongue and the sides with the midsole boasting a classic full-length visible Air unit in white.
Adidas x Alexander Wang
Wang’s designs for the company turn its iconic logo on its head — literally. Wang has inverted the familiar trefoil, and the “Originals” logo is upside down. The unisex collab includes 84 pieces of apparel and footwear which, toying with the idea of counterfeit goods, features an upside-down Adidas logo. Shirts are printed with email conversations and non-disclosure agreements.
Yeezy x 2XU
Seen on Victoria Beckham, Pippa Middleton, Sofia Vergara, and Lara Worthington and worn by most NBA and champion athletes, 2XU has graced some of the world’s best bodies since its launch in 2005. “We are not a price-point driven brand,” Jamie Hunt, one third of the ownership team, told TLFB. “We’re here to give the athlete the best garment possible to enhance their performance – hence the name 2XU (Two-Times-You). LVMH are large investors. They see us as a leader in our field – we’re the only sporting goods brand they have invested in.”
Rick Owens x Adidas
Rick Owens x Adidas lasted four years from 2013-2017 but still resonates in the Three Stripes’ recent history. It showed just how far Adidas was willing to go and how much it was willing to compromise on its aesthetic to bring a legendary designer into its ranks and offer sneaker-heads something different.
Fendy x Fila
The Fendi and Italian sportswear brand Fila collab combined cutting-edge craftsmanship with sportswear design, blending some of the most recognizable aspects of each label. Lifestyle apparel pieces like shirts, hoodies, trainers and track jackets sit alongside high-end accessories.
Puma x Balmain
Designed by Balmain’s Creative Director Olivier Rousteing and his good friend and the current face of Puma, Cara Delevingne, Puma x Balmain takes the form of two limited-edition capsule collections that feature a mix of sport and fashion, with pieces inspired by traditional boxing gear and infused with Parisian couture.
What luxury sportswear collabs would you like to see happening?
