Grand Collection x Umbro
A collaborative release inspired by sportswear culture and a rising trend in archive-revived ‘80s and ‘90s sporting aesthetics, sans-serif connoisseurs Grand Collection pair up with Mancunian time-honoured sportswear brand Umbro to introduce a sports-spun collection that remains ever-loyal to G.C founder Ben Oleynik’s ‘familiar grain’ ode to clean-lined aesthetics and reinvented skate specificity.
Launched in 2016 and based out of the cultural city-skate hub of NYC, Grand Collection is a brand that strikes the perfect balance between urbanised appeal and down-played skate staples. Inspired by midtown-Manhattan dweller Ben Oleynik’s notable past as Marketing Director at NYC sneaker-powerhouse Pony and by his time spent traversing between his rural Canadian hometown and his East Coast ties, Grand Collection hones in on an all-American vibe that turns to metropolitan references and fashionable fabrics to cement its free-spirited inner-city narrative and its endless loyalty to utilitarian function. With their refined yet rugged-minded apparel actively addressing the ‘unpredictable nature of navigating the Five Boroughs’, there’s no real surprise as to why the tightly-knit G.C crew turn their attention to sportswear powerhouse Umbro for their latest release.
Having paired with the likes of Palace Skateboards in 2012, Swedish SWEET SKTBS just last year and backed by similar street-led collaborations with PATTA, Korean streetwear brand LMC and the honourable Off-White, Umbro continues to climb steadfast on its slow but steady revival into the skate and street scene in style. Famed for their well-known sports-tailoring heritage and their timeless soccer-based aesthetic, Umbro continues its sportswear legacy well into the 21st century to honour its ageless ‘Wear with Pride, Play with Passion’ ethos and their commitment to serving the ‘practical needs of the modern, competitive athlete’. Originating as a British football brand in the 1920’s and rising to immediate fame after curating Manchester City’s iconic 1934 kit that they went on to win the FA Cup in, Harold Humphrey’s Umbro and its instantly recognisable double-diamond decal continues to conquer the lifestyle, street and skatewear scene even after a celebrative century in the game.
Following in the well-formed footsteps led by the likes of Champion, Kangol, Kappa and Fila when it comes to the contemporary revival of what were once ‘days-gone sportswear brands’ from the ‘80s, ‘90s and early ‘00s, Umbro’s latest collaboration with Grand Collection is one that pays tribute to classic track-and-field aesthetics, performance-minded profiles and re-addressed seasonal stylings. The use of authentic Umbro materials like their reimagined crinkled-nylon and their restyled satin-blocked checkerboard print, as seen across their matching Track Jacket, Track Pants and Shorts, delivers a contemporary twist across its distinctly British design code, whilst the continued honouring of Grand Collection’s appreciation for classic cut-and-sew profiles ensures skate-specific functionality for the streets. Kit-inspired trims such as the chest-crest embroidered logos and the non-distracting decals remain loyal to Umbro’s pitch-pursuing early days, while the collection’s overall heritage-minded aesthetic ties the brands together to honour modernities never-ending for vintage, past meets present re-writes and both brand’s creative commitment to sport.
The Grand Collection x Umbro collection will be available online at Flatspot on Thursday 15th October 2020 at 00:00AM (BST).
Shop all Grand Collection at Flatspot.
