Following the huge success of their three previous seasonal capsule collections in 2019, 2021, and 2022, Champion and Rick Owens have decided to continue their partnership and return together, unveiling another exciting collaborative project, launching on May 26th, 2023, which celebrates the sportswear brand’s rich heritage and the American designer’s signature contemporary aesthetic.
Available for both men and women, the collection has been developed and produced within a 15-kilometre radius of the two companies’ headquarters in Italy, and special attention has been paid to the selection of each of the fabrics used in the line, including soft terry, athletic mesh, and crinkled nylon, made from recycled materials and complemented by 100% organic cotton garments.
These fabrics can be seen in the sweatshirts and T-shirts that make up the line, as well as in the waistcoats and shorts, underwear, and lightweight outerwear, reimagined and carefully finished with the collab’s exclusive logo.
In terms of the capsule’s colour palette, this season includes neutral and monochromatic tones with the addition of a seasonal dark red that pays homage to Champion’s archival colour palette. The logo and brand attributes have been further enhanced with contemporary 3D embroidery.
Of the collaboration with Champions, Rick Owens said: “WHEN I STARTED MY LABEL IN THE NINETIES, I HAD DREW MY LOGO AS A CROSS BETWEEN THE CHAMPION LOGO AND A JEAN PATOU PERFUME LABEL…. THEY BOTH HAD A SIMILAR VINTAGE CALLIGRAPHIC FLAIR… I WASN’T CONSCIOUS OF IT THEN, BUT I SEE NOW HOW THAT BALANCE HAS DEFINED MY ONGOING AESTHETIC-A 1930S BLACK-AND-WHITE MOVIE VERSION OF BOTH AMERICAN BLUNTNESS AND EUROPEAN GLAM… I REMEMBER MY OLDER, COOLER COUSINS WEARING CHAMPION SWEATSHIRTS AND SHORTS IN THE SEVENTIES, CEMENTING THAT LOGO IN MY BRAIN…WITH OUR COLLABORATION, I HAVE TAKEN THEIR LOGO THAT INSPIRED MINE SO LONG AGO AND RENDERED IT IN A LUXURIOUS 3D EMBROIDERY WHICH WE HAVE SPRINKLED LIBERALLY OVER A RANGE INCLUDING SHEER T-SHIRTS, SWEATS, DISTORTED HOODIES, UNDERWEAR, AND WINDBREAKERS
THE PENTAGRAM I HAVE ADDED TO IT REPRESENTS A VOTE AGAINST MORALISTIC BIGOTRY AND INTOLERANCE, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE TOP OF MY AGENDA. SERENDIPITOUSLY, CHAMPION HAS A FACTORY IN ITALY 15KM FROM MINE, ALLOWING US TO PRODUCE A FULLY MADE-IN-ITALY COLLECTION IN THE SAME REGION UNDER INCREASINGLY ENVIRONMENTALL AND RESPONSIBLE CONDITIONS”.
Make a note of this date: May 26th, 2023. That will be the day when the entire collection will be available for purchase in select stores and at Rick Owens stores and rickowens.eu.
