We are saddened to learn that Jim Jenks, the founder of Ocean Pacific, passed away on Sunday. He was 83. Jim was a true visionary who helped create modern surf culture with the industry defining label, OP, in 1972. Not only did he create a groundbreaking brand that fused surf, fashion, art, and music, he was instrumental in bringing professional surfing to the US with Op PRO. Many waves later, OP continues his vision, aways searching for inspiration through life on the board.

R.I.P. Jim 🤙

British sports brand Umbro riffs off the acid house days of the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s for its new partnership with iconic music video channel, MTV.

Tracing a path back to Umbro’s home city of Manchester, the Umbro X MTV collaboration celebrates a time when working class kids, football fans, and students came together in disused warehouses, abandoned office blocks and country fields to rave together to a single unifying beat.

Every movement has its uniform, and the rave scene saw a new oversized and androgynous aesthetic take hold. Lovingly referred to as ‘baggy’, the movement became part of Northern identity, bringing together influences from sportswear, club culture, and workwear. These baggy looks were loose enough for the shape-shifting moves of up-all-night ravers, warm enough to keep the chill of the Northern night at bay, and androgynous enough to share with your mates.

While Umbro’s casualwear was making the move from football terraces to dancefloors, MTV was rewriting the pop culture rulebook with its 24/7 music videos providing the pre and post rave sounds for the nation’s party kids. For Spring Summer ’23, Umbro and MTV revisit the Second Summer of Love with a collection that combines casual sports-inspired silhouettes with a range of graphic prints and colours inspired by the ‘80’s and ‘90’s rave scene.

1990’s visual markers include a fusion logo, intertwining the Umbro and MTV brandmarks alongside a warped all-over checkerboard print. Fabrics too nod to the ‘90’s with a shell suit inspired nylon crinkle plus a polyester micro-let fabric which has been a long-time go-to for Umbro kits and training wear.

Silhouettes throughout are slightly oversized for a genderless fit. Hero styles include: the Coach Jacket available in a combination of Shaded Spruce & Brilliant White; a Hoodie in Brilliant White; Trackpants in Shaded Spruce & Brilliant White; a Graphic T-shirt in options of Shaded Spruce, Brilliant White, Jade Lime, or Malibu Bluea Football Jersey in three options of Shaded Spruce & Brilliant White, Malibu Blue & Fairy Wren, and Jaded Lime & Flame Scarlet; a Vest, Swim Shorts, and Bucket Hat are also available in the same colour options.

The Umbo x MTV collection extends into footwear and accessories and includes: the Copley ‘Checkerboard Sneaker’ in Malibu Blue; a Cap in three options of Shaded Spruce, Malibu Blue or Jaded Lime and a Waistpack bag in Shaded Spruce.

Featuring in the new collection’s campaign is Manchester band Porij. Musically inspired by the same era which informs the Umbro x MTV collab, NME described Porij as ‘Manchester’s most danceable new band’. In terms of musical style, NME described ‘each song becoming fiercer and more acidic as it progresses, as slippery basslines dissolve into swirls of echoing electronics, before sharply springing back into focus’. Just the sound then to front Umbro x MTV’s contemporary take on an era in the UK which would springboard dance music onto the global map while defining Manchester as the beating heart of the baggy revolution.

The MTV Collection by Umbro is available in selected countries from 9AM UK Time on Monday 20^th March, 2023.

Starter, the premium athletic brand established in 1971 and owned by Iconix International is launching a new footwear collection. The Starter brand has always been a pioneer in the fusion of fashion and sports; it the brand enters the footwear category leveraging 50 years of equity, originality, and authenticity. Starter is one of the original brands to recognize that sport is more than the team; it’s a state-of-mind, shared spirit, and a life-long bond. This ideal defines their heritage and shapes the brand today.

Nodding to both retro and athletic-inspired design, the collection will hook back to the Starter brand’s favorite fan gear. The collection consists of 6 silhouettes. The LFS1 launches in December, with the expanded collection launching early Spring 2023. Additional silhouettes include the Breakaway 88 Low and Mid, Tradition 71 Hi and Low, and the Team Trainer 92 Low. The styles range from genuine leather to colorful canvas uppers, all featuring mesh lining and durable rubber outsoles for all-day comfort. Colorways match back to the classic and core team colorways of Starter’s iconic satin jackets to create a head-to-toe hookup.

The LFS1 is currently available at Starter.com, and select retailers including Eblens, Athletes Foot, WSS, Superior, Cool Jays, Strike, Sports City, and House of Style. They will retail between $50 – $85.

PONY, the iconic premium athletic brand owned by Iconix International Inc., is back on the scene in time for its 50^th Anniversary with the launch of a new sneaker. The special anniversary shoe will be a limited-edition re-release of the M-100 style in white and gold. With this drop, the PONY brand will relaunch onto the sneaker scene bringing their rich history and authority in the sports and fashion world back to the streets.

The timing coincides with Iconix’s new multi-year licensing agreement with Genesco Inc. to be the exclusive U.S. and Canadian footwear licensee for the PONY brand. Genesco, a Nashville-based footwear focused specialty retailer and branded company, has been a leader in the footwear industry for more than 95 years. With a reputation for producing high quality, innovative styles with a sharp attention to detail, Genesco has produced footwear for many top brand names, such as Levi’s, Dockers, and Bass.

“We look forward to our continued relationship with Genesco as we partner together on PONY’s exciting relaunch into the marketplace in time for their 50^th Anniversary,” said Robert Galvin, Chief Executive Officer at Iconix International, Inc. “PONY has been part of the sports and fashion landscape for five decades, relaunching the brand will allow us to capitalize on the growing consumer demand for sport heritage brands.”

PONY began in 1972 and has always been synonymous with not just the game but ingrained in the popular cultural landscape. The brand’s roots and energy remain the same as they continue to disrupt the sneaker industry and evolve style. The PONY brand has a real heritage and story, recognized as one of the world’s most respected and credible sneaker and lifestyle brands. Pony stands for “when sports are more than just a game.”

Originally released in 1988, the M-100 was born on the court but raised on the streets of New York City. The silhouette offers a dynamic silhouette with a cross-training aesthetic. It features genuine leather upper with gold accent details that nod to the brand’s “Golden Anniversary”. The retro style is inspired by PONY’s authentic heritage as it takes the brand into the next 50 years. Additional colorways of the M-100 hi and low will be released early Spring 2023.

The M-100 drops Thursday, December 15^th and will be available at Pony.com with a retail price of $240.

Starter, the premium athletic brand established in 1971 and owned by Iconix International, has again teamed up with fashion and lifestyle manager, Ty Mopkins, to design an exclusive collection to celebrate the holidays. The collection consists of a hookup of a classic Starter Jacket and launch of the LFS-1 sneaker, all in festive red and white colorways. This limited-edition holiday pack will sure to be a hot item on Santa’s list.

The jacket will be available in 2 limited styles and will all feature the authentic Starter patch as well as an exclusive Ty Mopkins patch. The satin white body with red sleeves style affectionately named the “Candy Cane” will feature select NBA, MLB and NFL team logo’s executed in patent leather, the perfect match back to the collab’s LFS-1 shoes. The “Candy Cane” jacket will be available at select specialty retailers throughout the US. The Iconic Red Satin jacket with white quilted lining will feature select MLB teams in a special holiday-themed font and will be released exclusively at Foot Locker and Starter.com. The jackets will retail for $200 and $220, respectively.

The Starter x Ty Mopkins LFS-1 features a special “Santa sack” filled with a variety of shoelaces to give your LFS-1 custom looks all holiday long. A heritage low-cut silhouette gives a clean, streamlined look featuring genuine patent leather, a bold rubber outsole, lace-up closures, and secondary red and white laces for the ultimate holiday look. The shoes will be available exclusively at Starter.com and will retail for $100.

“We wanted to bring some excitement to retail with this Christmas release and give our supporters something different in the market like we have done so many times before with special releases. We will continue to raise the bar and celebrate sports license apparel by simply looking for the star” — Ty Mopkins.

Mopkins has collaborated with many prominent brands such as Nike, Adidas and New Era to add his unique touch to limited releases for the past several years. As a pillar for the city of Detroit, Mopkins continues to constantly give back to the community.

The Starter x Ty Mopkins Holiday collection is now available at select retailers, Starter.com, and Footlocker.com.

Iconic denim and fashion brand Buffalo David Bitton announces its 50th-anniversary collection in celebration of decades of legendary craftsmanship and performance. With over 50 years of emblematic denim styles under their belt, Buffalo David Bitton is leaving its mark by melding vintage style with modern trends.

The Buffalo David Bitton brand’s 50th-anniversary collection highlights the history of the brand, looking back on the iconic vintage design elements made popular in the 80s and 90s whilst adding in a mix of new contemporary elements. The collection features denim and sportswear, highlighting timeless washes, the softest fabrics, and a sustainable environmental promise.

“Buffalo David Bitton has always been a brand rooted in providing its customer with the perfect pair of jeans and this season we celebrate a milestone with our golden anniversary” said Andie Lipton, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Buffalo David Bitton.  “Our jeans have been at the forefront of style for decades and our 50th anniversary celebration is a great time to honor the brand’s history and look to the future with excitement.”

Utilizing a wide range of vintage washes and distressed blues, highlights of the menswear collection include a re-introduction of baggy jeans and relaxed fits, as well as timeless pieces like the Joe denim jacket which features iconic patches used throughout the years. Another highlight is the Matt loose fit jean featuring the same design and pattern made popular by the original Matthew jean of the ’90s. Highlights of the womenswear collection include a strong influence from the 90s with a wide range of bleached shades and classic authentic blues, emphasized with styles ranging from super wide legs to workwear-inspired pieces including the wide-leg Alice and Jada carpenter jeans.

“It’s amazing to see how styles that were once loved are now resurfacing in a new way,” said Alesha Rayoff-Pearce Director of Product Development and Design at Buffalo David Bitton. “The inspiration behind the collection was pulled from notable pop culture trends and styles from the past decades, creating a unique collection of timeless pieces.” 

The 50th-anniversary collection will become available starting September 21, 2022 available online and the following retailers in the United States and Canada:

US – www.buffalojeans.com Macy’s, Dillard’s & Belk
Canada – www.buffalojeans.ca  Hudson’s Bay