Become a fashion Olympian with our designer sportswear collaborations top picks

4^th July 2012

Ian Michael Turner

Ian Michael Turner

4 July 2012

With the Olympics fast approaching, sport is on everyone’s mind. This of course, is reflected in fashion and the current designers’ collections (many of whom have designed the Olympic uniforms for their respective nations) are heavily influenced by sport, a trend that shows no sign of dying down any time soon as the latest rounds of collections show. The line between fashion and sportswear is growing ever more blurred and indistinct.

Not everyone has the budget or means to acquire these high-end sporty catwalk creations, so it is fortunate that many big name sports brands such as Adidas release designer capsule collections with much more affordable price tags. We love a good designer collaboration so, in honour of all things sporting, The Upcoming gives you the rundown on the best of the designer/sports-brand pairings.

Adidas by Stella McCartney

Perhaps the best-known and much loved on-going designer collaboration is that of Stella McCartney and Adidas (soon to have its own stand-alone flagship store in London).  Since 2004 the mighty Miss Stella and Adidas have churned out a succession of collections of performance wear for women that is both functional and luxurious. These contemporary activewear collections cover a wide range of athletic arenas, from running and yoga to swimwear, tennis outfits and even surfwear, all adherent to McCartney’s signature fashion forward aesthetic.

Adidas Originals X Jeremy Scott

Also in bed with Adidas is flamboyant US designer Jeremy Scott. His partnership with the German mega brand is a much more edgy and street-inspired take on sportswear. Scott fuses a heavy dose of Americana (the Stars & Stripes is a prominent design theme), with his own outré personal take on sportswear that includes often includes stuffed toys and his now infamous wings, which have appeared on everything from track tops to sleeveless leather vests and the iconic JS Wings high-top shoes. Memorable past collections for Adidas include a “rock and roll band leader” outing inspired by the majorettes and bands that feature in sporting culture of American high schools. Scott’s colourful pop designs, beloved by Jedward and a host of celebrities, cover both menswear and womenswear.

Puma by Alexander McQueen

McQueen is another big name designing a sportswear capsule collection, this time a footwear range in conjunction with Puma. The cult British label’s rebellious punk rock ethos is applied to clothing and footwear creating a highly unique and distinct range that is both an aesthetical and commercially successful fusion of high fashion and athletics. Lux pony skin high-top trainers such as the Joust are a prime example of what to expect from this partnership.

Converse by John Varvatos

Perhaps a lesser-know name this side of the Atlantic, John Varvatos is big news Stateside, famed for his sleek rockstar-worthy clothing (a recent ad campaign for the brand featured devotees Green Day). Varvatos has been working with classic American sporting brand Converse since 2001, marking him as one of the first designers to enter into such a partnership, putting his own stylish spin on iconic sneakers such as the Jack Purcell and the Star Player Ox trainers, giving these much-loved and well-known shoes his signature edge by streamlining silhouettes and adding rock ‘n’ roll design details such as studding and zippers.

Ian Michael Turner